Sanctuary Scholarships

The University of Reading is recognised as a University of Sanctuary and is committed to welcoming and including sanctuary seekers across our teaching, research and community activities. We value the rich contribution those seeking sanctuary can make to our institution and life in Reading. 

In light of this, the University of Reading offers a number of scholarships each year to eligible sanctuary seekers.  

Eligible immigration status includes: asylum seekers with an outstanding asylum claim, refugee status, humanitarian protected status, those granted settlement in the UK through the ARAP or ACRS schemes for Afghan refugees, and those with a right to remain in the UK through the Ukraine Family Scheme, the Ukraine Sponsorship (Homes for Ukraine) scheme, the Ukraine Extension Scheme, or the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme.

Asylum claims must have been submitted to the UK government.

Awards Available

We offer two different types of Sanctuary Scholarships: Fee Waiver and Bursary Awards, and Bursary Awards only.  The different scholarships offer different levels of support, depending on access to Student Finance (assessment for which is typically based on immigration status).

• Bursary Awards: for those whose immigration status allows you to qualify for Home fees status or to access tuition Fee Loans or Maintenance Loans from Student Finance England/Wales/NI/SAAS. Typically those with official refugee status, humanitarian protected status, ARAP/ACRS, and Ukraine Scheme.

• Fee Waiver and Bursary Awards: for those whose immigration status does not allow you to qualify for Home fees status or to access tuition Fee Loans or Maintenance Loans from Student Finance England/Wales/NI/SAAS.  Typically asylum seekers with an outstanding asylum claim.

Sanctuary Scholarships applications will open in late January 2026, for courses that start in September 2026.  

Please visit our webpage for further information on these scholarships.  The online application form will be published on our webpage once we are open for applications in January.