The University of Sheffield is continuing to support people displaced by war or persecution through a range of scholarships, placements and educational initiatives.
Sheffield is a University of Sanctuary - part of a national network of universities in the UK that are committed to helping students and academics who are fleeing war, persecution or other disasters in their home country.
The University has a long history of welcoming people seeking sanctuary. Its current support package includes Sanctuary Scholarships – five fully-funded scholarships for students who have sought refuge in the UK. The scholarships are designed to help students who have been displaced, affected by conflict or have another reason for their forced migration to study at Sheffield. The scholarships cover the cost of tuition and provide a £10,300 award to support living costs for each year of study.
Sheffield’s Forced Migrant English Language Support Programme is designed to help students develop their English language skills before they start a degree with a foundation year with the University’s Department for Lifelong Learning. This includes a fully funded pre-sessional full time English language course and support with costs of study.
The University has launched an international visitors scheme for academics who are at risk of discrimination, persecution, suffering or violence in their home country. This enables academics to come to Sheffield for an extended period of time - such as six months or a year - to continue their research. The programme will continue into the new academic year in September 2024.
Sheffield’s Gaza-Palestine Postgraduate Taught Scholarship is supporting a taught postgraduate student from Gaza in 2024. This covers the cost of tuition, accommodation in University halls of residence and a maintenance award of £5,000.
The University’s Global Campus initiative provides a wide range of weekly events and activities to help students settle into life at the University and in the city of Sheffield, such as Global Cafe, a chance to meet university ambassadors and fellow Sheffield students, crafts and games, local history walks and regular drop-in sessions for advice and support on all aspects of student life.
The University is working with Student Action for Refugees Sheffield (STAR) to provide computer accounts and access to library facilities for local refugees and asylum seekers. This enables them to access the wireless Internet network across campus, library resources and online English language support materials for free.
The University is also working with ASSIST Sheffield to provide free access to sport and physical activity facilities for people seeking sanctuary in the city, and the Council For At-Risk Academics (CARA) in its work to provide urgently-needed help to academics in immediate danger, those forced into exile, and the many who choose to work in their home countries despite serious risks.
More information on the University’s support for students and scholars seeking sanctuary.
