Aber Sanctuary Scholarship

We are delighted that Aberystwyth University have been offering Sanctuary Scholarships since 2022

Applications for 2026-27 opened on Tuesday 10 February 2026. The deadline to submit an application is 23:59 GMT Monday 30 March 2026.

2026-27 Sanctuary Scholarship Application Form

We are a diverse and inclusive community and recognise our role in breaking down barriers that may prevent individuals from achieving their aspirations.

Our Sanctuary scholarships are for those from forced migrant backgrounds who face a barrier to accessing university because Home Office regulations surrounding their immigration status prevent them from accessing funding from Student Finance. Sanctuary Scholarship only applies to those currently domiciled in the UK.

We will be offering for this coming year two Sanctuary Scholarships.

1 x Undergraduate awards
1 x Postgraduate Taught Masters award

Aberystwyth Pre-sessional English Refugee Scholarship - This scholarship is not currently available.

About the scholarships

Each Undergraduate scholarship:

Will provide shortlisted scholarship applicants who apply before the deadline with free English language testing if they need evidence of English for their chosen course. Applicants who apply after the deadline will not be automatically eligible for free English language testing - CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE
Is available for degree courses or International Foundation Programme plus degree course combinations with a normal maximum duration of four years.
Covers the full cost of the tuition fees for a maximum of the normal duration of the undergraduate taught programme for which the applicant has been admitted, until such time as they are awarded a status that entitles them to access student finance.
Covers the full cost of an International Foundation Programme (if required) for the normal duration of the course.
Provides £8,000 per year towards living cost expenses.
Provides a free place (single room in a shared, self–catering apartment) in one of our Halls of Residence for scholarship students who wish to stay in University accommodation. Family accommodation is not available.
Provides English language support (if required) in the form of a 12 or 6-week Pre-sessional Course with free accommodation and an allowance towards living costs, for scholarship students who do not require an International Foundation Programme. CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE

The scholarship is not available for our Veterinary Science courses or Postgraduate Research study.

Each Postgraduate scholarship:

Will provide shortlisted scholarship applicants who apply before the deadline with free English language testing if they need evidence of English for their chosen course. Applicants who apply after the deadline will not be automatically eligible for free English language testing. - CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE
Is available for taught postgraduate courses only.
Covers the full cost of the tuition fees for a maximum of the normal duration of the taught postgraduate programme for which the applicant has been admitted, until such time as they are awarded a status that entitles them to access student finance.
Provides £8,000 per year towards living cost expenses.
Provides a free place (single room in a shared, self–catering apartment) in one of our Halls of Residence for scholarship students who wish to stay in University accommodation. Family accommodation is not available.
Provides English language support (if required) in the form of a 12 or 6-week Pre-sessional Course, with free accommodation and an allowance towards living costs - CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE

The scholarship is not available for Postgraduate Research study.

Eligibility

The Aberystwyth Sanctuary Scholarship is open to those who do not have access to student finance and hold one of the following immigration status in the UK:

You are an asylum seeker; or
You have been granted discretionary leave to enter or remain (with forced migration background); or
You are the partner/dependent of an asylum seeker/discretionary/leave to enter or remain (with forced migration background).

AND

You have received a conditional or unconditional offer from Aberystwyth University to study a full-time undergraduate degree or postgraduate taught masters course or International Foundation Programme.
You can provide a reference in support of your application from an organisation such as a school, college, community or voluntary group.
You have submitted an application to Aberystwyth University’s Sanctuary Scholarship by the deadline.

Caveats and exclusions

The scholarship is for September entry only: the award cannot be deferred to a different intake.
The scholarship is for Year 1 entry of an undergraduate degree course at Aberystwyth University or postgraduate taught course or International Foundation Programme.
The scholarship cannot be used for any externally funded courses that are more than 4 years in duration (e.g. Veterinary Sciences).
The scholarship can only be used for full-time study.

How to apply

Before you apply, you must have received a conditional or unconditional offer from Aberystwyth University to study a full-time undergraduate degree or postgraduate taught masters course or International Foundation Programme.

When completing the Sanctuary Scholarship application please read the guidance notes. Please submit your Sanctuary Scholarship application via the online form.

With your application, you need to provide a copy of your Application Registration Card (ARC) OR alternatively you need to complete an Immigration History Consent Form. Please send the relevant evidence as an attachment to sanctuary@aber.ac.uk.

A reference from your referee needs to be provided. They should be someone in the UK who knows you well. The referee could be from a refugee support group, volunteer organisation, caseworker, support adviser, or education or health professional. Their reference should be on headed paper and the referee should have an official email rather than a yahoo/gmail or similar type of email address. Please send this as an attachment to sanctuary@aber.ac.uk