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University response to the invasion of Ukraine


With the ongoing unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Government, we know that this continues to be a concerning time, particularly for students and staff from Ukraine, Russia and surrounding areas.

We take great pride in being a diverse and inclusive community, welcoming students and staff from all over the world to study and work at Warwick. The safety and wellbeing of all members of our community is always our utmost priority, and we’ll do all we can to support anyone who is affected.

The University is working on a range of initiatives to support those affected by the invasion - we’ll keep this page up to date with the latest information about the University’s response and the support available to our community.

Quick Links

Ukraine: One Year On

One year on from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, watch a video message from our Vice-Chancellor and meet some of the people supported by staff and students at Warwick over the past year.

University response

Twinning agreement with Ukrainian university

On 21 September 2022, Warwick signed an agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) with Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics (NURE), Ukraine, as part of an international twinning program that is supporting Ukrainian universities during the war. At the online ceremony, Professor Stuart Croft and Professor Igor Ruban, Acting Rector NURE, laid the foundation for cooperating in science, education and technology, which will have an immediate focus on limiting the disruption created by the invasion. Find out more.

Warwick Summer School

In July, the Warwick Summer School welcomed 9 students from Ukraine across several different courses including Leadership, Marketing and Communications, Politics, and Strategic Management. Scholarships were provided through a Warwick partnership with the Ukrainian Leadership Academy (ULA) and were made possible thanks to the work of the Warwick Foundation Studies Department (home to the Warwick Summer School), central University leadership, and support from the Response to Events in Ukraine Working Group.

The students attending the three-week Summer School had a very positive influence on the classroom discussions and the social programme, from singing Ukranian songs during the Karaoke and Disco night, to educating their fellow students about their first-hand experience of the invasion, and what it means to study and work in Ukraine for young people today. The Summer School opportunity and partnership with the ULA opened up many other conversations around teaching and learning opportunities, knowledge exchange, and joint leadership events.

Ukrainian visiting academics

Warwick has already welcomed ten Ukrainian visiting academics and their families, funded by Fernandes Fellowships and by Warwick. This has been organised by Institute of Advanced Study (IAS) with mentoring and academic support from academic departments: Law, Physics, WMG, Engineering, WMS and History. These new colleagues are continuing their research and scholarship here at Warwick and building collaborations across campus and beyond. We are working to help several more people who have been affected by the invasion of Ukraine in the same way – if you’re a staff member at Warwick and you or your contacts are thinking about hosting staff members, visit this webpage to find out more.

Support for students

We’re a welcoming and inclusive community, and support is open to everyone. Current students can access a wide range of people who can either advise you or direct you to the right person for support – if you’re affected in any way, please reach out for support.

Read a letter from the Department for Education to Ukrainian students about support that the Department for Education has made available.

For wellbeing support, please contact the team via the Wellbeing Portal or call Wellbeing Support Services on 024 7657 5570. The team provide online consultations from Monday – Friday, 10am – 3pm.

For out of hours support at any time of the day or night, visit togetherall.com.

Other contacts for support:

If you are concerned about the impact on your academic performance, please speak to your Personal Tutor. You can also speak to your Personal Tutor with other queries, and they will be able to direct you to the right place for support.

See details about support available if your personal circumstances are affecting your studies adversely.

The Office for Students has provided Universities with some hardship funding to support Ukrainian nationals and Ukrainian-domiciled current students who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine. We have contacted Ukrainian nationals and Ukrainian-domiciled current students via email who are eligible to register interest in applying to the International Students' Emergency FundLink opens in a new windowif they are struggling to meet their essential costs.

If the above does not apply to you, your circumstances have changed and you are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact the Student Funding Office in the first instance for information, advice, and guidance.

The Home Office have confirmed that Ukrainians who are on work, study or visit visas in the UK can have their visas temporarily extended or be able to switch onto different visa routes without needing to leave the UK.

Check the full details and find out how to apply. For further immigration advice specific to Ukrainian nationals, you may find this link useful. For advice on the Student Visa route, please visit our webpages (please note that the University’s Student Immigration Service cannot provide advice on asylum applications).

Support for prospective students

We will do all we can to support prospective students to fulfil your ambition to come to Warwick.

We will keep our prospective student page up to date with the latest information and advice. On this page, you will find information about Sanctuary Scholarships, visas, and how to get in touch if you have any other queries.

Applications to transfer to Warwick

The University is unable to consider candidates for exemption from part of a degree course where this was undertaken outside the UK. This means it is not possible to apply to transfer into the second year or a subsequent year of a course at Warwick.

Explore our courses for 2023 entry and online and in-person opportunities to discover more about our courses, visit campus and get a sense of life at Warwick.

Support for staff

Please speak to your line manager so that they can direct you to support, or if you are concerned about the impact on your work.

Other contacts for support:

  • Contact a Chaplain or fill out their short enquiry form – the Chaplaincy are there for people of all faiths and none. You can also access Prayer Facilities and come to the Chapel in the Chaplaincy to light a candle and place it on the altar.
  • If you’ve experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct, bullying, harassment, discrimination and/or a hate crime, confidential support is available via Report and Support to guide you through your options.

We welcome nominations at any time from Warwick colleagues on behalf of academics who
are at risk as a result of the war in Ukraine. The schemes offer funding for travel, accommodation, some living expenses, research and administrative support. See more information about Warwick IAS Visiting Fellowships.

As a University, we will work with the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA), experts at supporting vulnerable academics into fellowships, with whom we have worked closely in the past.

The Home Office have confirmed that Ukrainians who are on work, study or visit visas in the UK can have their visas temporarily extended or be able to switch onto different visa routes without needing to leave the UK.

Check the full details and find out how to apply. For further immigration advice specific to Ukrainian nationals, you may find this link useful.

The Stand with Ukraine Staff Network brings together staff to create a network and tap into expertise, co-ordinate efforts to volunteer time, items and ideas, and signpost external resources.

How you can help

The government has shared ways individuals can help including applying to be a sponsor as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme. At Warwick, we are working to help several more Ukrainian visiting academics who have been affected by the invasion of Ukraine – if you’re a staff member at Warwick and you or your contacts are thinking about hosting staff members, visit this webpage to find out more.

Our local councils, Coventry City CouncilLink opens in a new window and Warwick District CouncilLink opens in a new window have shared resources and information on ways to support.

Vice-Chancellor's statement (February 2022)

Read the full statement from our Vice-Chancellor.

You can also read the latest statement and announcements from Universities UK.Link opens in a new window