1. Eligible students

1.1 The financial scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver for all years of the course, open to students who meet all of the following criteria:

  • You have submitted, or are the partner/dependent of someone who has submitted, an application to the UK Home Office for asylum or humanitarian protection; or
  • You have been, or are the partner/dependent of someone who has been granted Discretionary or Limited Leave to Remain or some other form of temporary status, as a result of an asylum application and are not eligible for funding from Student Finance England;

Please note: Spouses/civil partners must have been the spouse/civil partner on the date on which the asylum application was made. Children/step-children must have been aged under 18 on the date on which the asylum application was made.

and

  • You have a conditional or firm offer from the University of Portsmouth for 2024 entry onto an undergraduate degree course by 26 April 2024 (excluding NHS-funded courses).
  • You are attending a school, college or voluntary group which can provide a reference in support of your application
  • You are unable to access UK government student financial support for higher education because of your immigration status
  • You do not have a 'no study' immigration bail condition, as confirmed by the Home Office
  • You live within 30 miles of, and/or would be able to afford to commute to, the University of Portsmouth
  • You do not require additional support from the University for living expenses or accommodation other than that provided through the Sanctuary Scholarship and the Student Hardship Fund
  • You are able to provide evidence to the satisfaction of the University that your asylum application is under consideration by the UK Home Office or evidence that you meet one of the other immigration status requirements detailed above.
  • You are willing to act as a champion for the University to encourage future students to progress to Higher Education. This may involve sharing your story or experiences of studying at Portsmouth to use in our promotion of the University or supporting our recruitment and outreach events such as Open Days to inspire future students.

Applicants must meet all of these eligibility criteria and be in a position to verify their circumstances in order to apply. Applicants who do not meet all of the criteria will not be considered for the Scholarship.

1.2 There is only one scholarship, so student eligibility does not guarantee that applicants will receive an award. Students will need to apply for the scholarship, shortlisted applicants may be invited for an interview and successful applicants will be selected by our scholarship panel.

2. Eligible courses

2.1 Full-time, campus-based, undergraduate courses. These are BSc (Econ) (Hons), BSc (Hons), BA (Hons) and LLB (Hons) courses only. Top-up courses, degree apprenticeships, NHS-funded courses and distance learning courses are not eligible.

2.2 Students must have completed their registration onto year 1 of their course to access the support available to Sanctuary Scholars.

2.3 The list of eligible courses is subject to approval, modifications, closure and suspensions at the discretion of the University.

3. Academic criteria

3.1 Successful applicants must meet the specific course entry criteria for their course.

4. Application process

4.1 Applicants will need to complete the Scholarship application in order to be considered.

4.2 As part of the scholarship application, students will need to provide a short statement demonstrating how studying at the University of Portsmouth and being awarded the Sanctuary Scholarship will prepare them for their future.

4.3 Decisions on the award of the scholarship will be made by a University Scholarship Panel in May. Decisions will be based on the eligibility criteria, academic predictions and achievements, referee statements and the scholarship application.

4.4 Shortlisted applicants will be asked to provide evidence that their asylum application is under consideration by the UK Home Office or evidence that they meet one of the other immigration status requirements detailed above and may be invited to interview.

4.4. The panel's decision is final and the panel shall not be obliged to provide reasons for their decisions.

5. Timescales

5.1 Successful applicants will be notified by the end of June 2024 and confirmed following receipt of final examination grades. They will need to accept a place on their course as their firm choice in order to receive the scholarship.

6. Operational terms and conditions

6.1 The Scholarship will be made to the successful student on an eligible course, subject to the availability of the limited awards.

6.2 The Scholarship is subject to applicants applying to the University and becoming a firm offer holder by 26 April 2024 on an eligible full-time undergraduate course commencing in September 2024.

6.3 Students who defer their place to September 2024 or later will not be eligible for the Scholarship.

6.4 The Scholarship will cover the course tuition fee and be administered by the University's Student Finance team.

6.5 Successful applicants will be required to fully register onto each year of their course to remain eligible for the scholarship. This entails completing the online registration form and providing original evidence of their personal identity in accordance with University regulations. Any extension to become fully registered onto the course will need to be requested through the late registration process. If this does not happen students will become ineligible to receive the scholarship.

6.6 Students who suspend or withdraw from their studies before receiving full payment of the award will become ineligible for the scholarship. No extenuating circumstances will be taken into consideration. The tuition fee due for any remaining fee liability periods if a student returns to study will be payable by the students.

6.7 Students who transfer to an ineligible course before receiving full payment of the award will become ineligible for the scholarship. The tuition fee due for the remaining fee liability periods will be payable by the students.

6.8 Students, who, as the result of an asylum application, are granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK will become ineligible for the scholarship. The tuition fee due for the remaining fee liability periods will be payable by the students, who would be expected to apply for student finance.

6.9 Students, who are the dependent of someone, who, as the result of an asylum application, are granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK will become ineligible for the scholarship. The tuition fee due for the remaining fee liability periods will be payable by the students, who would be expected to apply for student finance.

6.10 Students who withdraw, transfer or suspend from their studies will have their tuition fee calculated in accordance with the Tuition Fee Policy liability periods.

6.11 Applicants who receive the Sanctuary Scholarship will still be entitled to apply for bursaries and scholarships, subject to their eligibility.

6.12 The University's decision on the allocation of the scholarship in accordance with these terms and conditions is final. There is no appeals process.