Sanctuary Scholarship

To apply for this scholarship you must have an offer to study at the University of Southampton on an undergraduate or postgraduate taught course starting September 2026.

You must also either:

• be an asylum seeker or included as a dependent (e.g. a child or spouse of the applicant) awaiting a decision on your asylum claim or be in the appeals process
• have received a decision on your asylum claim but been given a new visa status that does not allow access to UK government financial support  like tuition fee or maintenance loans or give you a UK (or 'Home') Fee Status.

Check your fee status

If you're not sure if you can apply or not, or what other support you may be able to apply for, contact our Sanctuary Officer, Claire Giles.

All applications will be considered, but if you are in any of these neighbouring areas your application will be given priority:

• Dorset
• Hampshire
• Isle of Wight
• Wiltshire
• Sussex
• West Surrey

To apply for this scholarship you will need to complete an application form. You will also be asked to submit the following supporting evidence:

• your admissions letter
• evidence for your immigration claim or status
• a reference

Apply as an undergraduate

Apply as a postgraduate

If you are unable to access the form or need a different format, please contact the Sanctuary team.

There are 9 stages to the shortlisting process.

1. The Sanctuary Officer will process the forms and may contact applicants should further information be required.
2. The panel meet to go through completed applications after the submission deadlines for undergraduates and postgraduate.
3. The panel selects the applicants they wish to offer the scholarship to.
4. The Sanctuary Officer contacts successful applicants to offer them a conditional scholarship offer. This condition is based on being able to successfully enrol onto one of our university programmes and completing a Right to Study Check.
5. You then accept or decline the scholarship offer. If you decline, the panel will go back to the unsuccessful applicants to ask if they are still interested and eligible.
6. In August you must confirm if you have met the requirements of your programme after results day.
7. You must confirm whether accommodation is needed with the Sanctuary Officer and apply if needed.
8. Once confirmed and you have applied for accommodation you must complete a Right to Study check.
9. The University will check your eligibility again in early September. Do not move to Southampton until you have had confirmation.