Northumbria University is pleased to announce The Sanctuary Scholarship, for those seeking asylum in the UK.
This opportunity will award successful students a £9,000 per year contribution towards studies, as well as a full 100% fee waiver for a wide range of eligible Full-Time Undergraduate courses, beginning in September 2026.
Please read the following Guidance Notes prior to making your application.
Applications are now closed.
Please do not apply if you are living outside of the UK as your application will not be considered.
Terms and Conditions
To be eligible for the Sanctuary Scholarship, you must:
- Be currently seeking asylum in the UK, or you must be a dependant, spouse or civil partner* of someone currently seeking asylum in the UK
- Be able to provide evidence of your current immigration status
- Have received a conditional or unconditional offer on a Full-Time Undergraduate course at Northumbria University, starting in September 2026
- Be starting at level four (i.e. the first year of a Full-Time Undergraduate degree)
- Meet all the conditions of your course, including English Language competency requirements
- Be living in the North East of England (Tyne and Wear, County Durham, Northumberland, Cleveland and North Cumbria) at the time of application
- Be unable to access UK student finance (tuition fee loans and/or maintenance loans) by virtue of your immigration status
* Your spouse or civil partner must have been your spouse or civil partner on the date that your asylum application was made. Dependent children or step-children must have been aged 18 or under on the date that your asylum application was made.
Important Information
- Students selected for the Sanctuary Scholarship will not be eligible for any other Northumbria scholarship or discount during this course of study
- The Sanctuary Scholarship is awarded as a 100% tuition fee waiver and a cash sum of £9,000
- The cash award will be paid as: 25% in November 2026, 25% in February 2027, and 50% in May 2027 (and at the same time in subsequent academic years) Northumbria University will make payments through the BACs system and therefore successful applicants will need to provide bank details
- Students will receive a 100% tuition fee discount on Full-Time eligible courses studied at Newcastle City Campus and Coach Lane Campus only
- Scholarships will be awarded based on the scholarship application form, relevant documentation, and interview - course application forms will not be considered
- The Sanctuary Scholarship will be provided for a maximum of three years while the applicant remains eligible and continues to make satisfactory progress on the course of study
- Should you be required to resit a year, the scholarship will not be paid in this year
- If you are successful in being awarded a Sanctuary Scholarship, you must promptly inform Northumbria University if your immigration status changes. This may result in the Sanctuary Scholarship being withdrawn for the next academic year, should access to UK student finance be granted
- If you defer your place or cease to be a registered student at the University, the scholarship offer will be withdrawn
- Northumbria University reserves the right to withdraw this scheme at any point
- The University's decision to award or withdraw a Sanctuary Scholarship is final and cannot be challenged; there is no right of appeal
Selection Process
- There is a competitive selection process for this scholarship scheme. Please read the following Guidance Notes prior to making your application. Applicants need to apply via online written application form; a selection panel will consider all eligible scholarship applications and shortlist for interview
- Those shortlisted will then be required to attend an interview at the Newcastle City Campus
- Applicants attending an interview will be asked to provide copies of documentation relevant to your current immigration status, such as Home Office letters
- Successful applicants will be chosen by the interview panel and will be notified by the end of June 2026.
Northumbria University recognises the unique and difficult circumstances students who are seeking asylum may experience and the challenges this may create in accessing Higher Education. As such, the University offers a range of pre-entry services through
NU Belong to any students seeking asylum considering university, including application support.
Aspiring Dreams, a lived experience organisation is supporting those from disadvantaged backgrounds including those seeking asylum. Aspiring Dreams offer help and guidance and will gladly assist anyone wishing to apply for a Northumbria Sanctuary Scholarship. Please contact Arooba for further information.
Last Updated: 27/04/2026
