Sanctuary Scholarship (Pathway 1)
King's College London
About this opportunity
Sanctuary Scholarships are provided by King’s College London as part of its commitment to support talented students who are forced migrants in the UK.
The Sanctuary Scholarships (Pathway 1) are available for students who are asylum seekers or have been granted limited leave to remain and have no access to Student Finance. These scholarships comprise full tuition fee support and a living cost bursary per year of study for undergraduate programmes. The living cost bursary is calculated each academic year based on guidance from Student Finance England regarding the minimum amount of funding needed to cover expenses associated with studying an undergraduate degree at a university in London.
Successful applicants will receive either a Sanctuary Scholarship or a Jesus the Light Sanctuary Scholarship. Both types of scholarship provide the same financial support, and applicants will not need to submit a separate application or choose which type of award they wish to apply for.
The support of the Jesus the Light Sanctuary Scholarship is delighted to create a series of scholarships to help students seeking sanctuary in the UK. The name ‘Jesus the Light’ is a celebration of the supporter’s own personal faith, compelling him to help others because of his faith. It not only reflects King’s historic Church of England foundation but also our diverse community of all beliefs and backgrounds today. Both the Bible and the Qur’an refer to Jesus as ‘light’, and this description is not intended to impinge upon the religious beliefs of others.
The scholarships are open to all regardless of faith, political creed, or nationality, and have been created to help students who wish to undertake their education at King’s College London.
Level of Study
- Undergraduate
Eligibility
Asylum seeker, Limited or Discretionary Leave to Remain (private/family life)
Additional notes about eligibility criteria
To be eligible, applicants must have been granted one of the following immigration statuses:
– A temporary form of leave (limited leave to remain, discretionary leave to remain) as the result of an asylum application or human rights application; or,
– Are an asylum seeker, child of an asylum seeker or an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child.
Applicants must also:
– Have applied to King’s College London for 2024 entry and, providing they have received a response from King’s, been given a conditional or unconditional offer*
– By virtue of their immigration status, be unable to access Tuition Fee Loans or Maintenance Loans from Student Finance England/Wales/NI/SAAS
– Not hold an undergraduate and/or postgraduate degree, awarded in the UK and/or abroad
– Currently reside in the UK
*King’s College London accepts applications from current King’s students if they meet all the eligibility criteria but were unaware they were not eligible for student finance at the point of application, or if they became an asylum seeker whilst on course.
Course eligibility
– All undergraduate 3 and 4-year programmes, including those with an integrated Masters or study abroad.
– Dentistry (A205) and Medicine (A100) undergraduate programmes, and the Enhanced Support Dentistry Programme and Extended Medical Degree programme are not eligible for Sanctuary Scholarships.
Extra considerations
Courses which include a year abroad will only be considered if the student’s immigration status will not be put at risk by studying overseas.
Please be aware that some courses will require eligibility to work in the UK to complete integral work placements. Therefore, if your course incorporates a compulsory work placement and your current immigration status does not permit work, we will be unable to award the scholarship.
What is included in this opportunity?
- Fee Waiver (no fees)
- Full bursary (study costs and full living costs)
Additional notes about support provided
At King’s College London we recognise that any background of forced migration can have a significant impact on educational opportunities and outcomes, and therefore provide pre-entry and on-course support to forced migrant students. This support includes the following:
• Application support – King’s has a designated member of staff (pre-entry), who can assist forced migrant students with all aspects of the application process. You can talk about course choices, receive feedback on a draft personal statement, tips on interviews as well as guidance on King’s other support services.
• Additional admissions consideration – If you are a forced migrant and applying to study at King’s, we strongly advise you to disclose this directly to us. This will allow admissions staff to take your circumstances into consideration and will not have a negative impact on your application. We use this data to holistically assess an applicant’s future potential to succeed and to differentiate between similar highly qualified candidates.
• Support for students at university – Starting university is a very exciting time but it can also be overwhelming. King’s recognises that it can be particularly daunting if you have come from a forced migrant background or if you have a challenging home situation so we have support available to help manage the transition to university. This includes bespoke inductions and The Buddy Scheme. We also have a designated advisor for sanctuary scholars currently at King’s who can help with any queries about higher education, whether that be about accommodation, studying or finances.
Types of study available
- Full-time
- Face-to-face
Additional details about application process
How to apply for Sanctuary Scholarship (Pathway 1):
- Before applying, read this application overview. This outlines the questions you need to answer, and the supporting evidence required to complete your application
- Complete this eligibility checker. This will give you guidance on whether you are eligible to apply.
- Complete this online application form.
Please note, it is not possible to save and return to your application. You will therefore need to complete the application in one sitting.
The online application form includes the following sections:
– Personal details
– Eligibility check, including immigration status check
– Personal statement
– Support required
– Referee details
We recommend writing the application in a word processor, before copying and pasting it into the online application form.
Applications are reviewed by a panel. We aim to contact all candidates during the week commencing 3 June 2024 with a decision.
Is this opportunity available for individuals outside of the UK?
No
For further questions contact the scholarship provider
Email Us
Priority-groups@kcl.ac.uk
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