The University of Warwick is located on the outskirts of the city of Coventry which is recognised as a 'City of Sanctuary'. The 'City of Sanctuary' movementLink opens in a new window is committed to building a culture of hospitality and welcome, especially for those seeking sanctuary from war and persecution. The University of Warwick is committed to creating a culture of welcome for people seeking sanctuary within, and beyond, our campus, and was awarded University of SanctuaryLink opens in a new window status in 2017.
You may also be able seek support from cara.ngoLink opens in a new window, who help academics from any country in the world, on any continent, who are being forced to flee.
Applications for the Postgraduate Taught Sanctuary Scholarship are open now for 2025 entry. Please apply below.
Postgraduate Taught Sanctuary Scholarships are available to students who are seeking sanctuary in the United Kingdom or have been awarded a protection status as a result of an asylum application.
Please note that there are 3 PGT Sanctuary Scholarships available for 2025 entry and not all applications will be successful. We would therefore encourage you to explore alternative sources of fundingLink opens in a new window if you plan to apply for the scholarship.
Applications for the PGT Sanctuary Scholarship 2025 entry are now open. Please read the eligibility criteria below, and use our guidance notesLink opens in a new window to help you complete your application.
There are up to 3 PGT Sanctuary Scholarships available for 2025 entry. Each scholarship includes:
Financial support
Full tuition fee support: Students will be offered a non-repayable 100% tuition fee waiver for 1 year (2 years if part-time).
Maintenance/living cost support: Students will be awarded a maintenance stipend in line with UKRI ratesLink opens in a new window (£20,780 for 2025/26 academic year).
Pastoral support
The Widening Participation Lifecycle Team will support you throughout your studies and will share information about opportunities that might be relevant to you. We can also signpost you to other areas of support across the university.
Please note that you must be able to provide documentary evidence to verify your circumstances in relation to each criteria. Applicants who do not meet the full criteria will not be considered for an award. If you have any questions, please contact the Widening Participation Lifecycle Team at lifecycleteam@warwick.ac.uk.
Criteria 1: Sanctuary Eligibility Criteria
1. You must be living in the UK at the time of your PGT Sanctuary Scholarship application. The UK includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. We will not accept applications from students living outside of the UK.
2. In addition, you must meet ONE of the following Sanctuary criteria:
You have sought asylum from the UK government (you are an asylum seeker) or were included as a dependent (spouse/child) on an application for asylum. Please note: Spouses/civil partners must have been the spouse/civil partner on the date on which the asylum application to the UK government was made. Children/step-children must have been aged under 18 on the date on which the asylum application to the UK government was made.
OR
You have received a decision on your claim for asylum but your new visa status does not allow you to access UK Government Student Financial Support, i.e. the Postgraduate Masters Loan, nor does it give you Home Fee Status. For example, if your decision contains the words "no public funds", this means that you cannot access UK Student Loans, therefore you would be eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Please note: If you have been granted protection under specific schemes that make you eligible for 'Home fee' status and student loans from the UK government, such as the Ukraine SchemesLink opens in a new window or Afghan SchemesLink opens in a new window, you will not be eligible for the Postgraduate Taught Sanctuary Scholarship.
If your new visa status means that you are eligible for student financial support from the UK Government, we would advise you to contact the relevant student loans company for more information:
Please note that module based courses (courses not achieving 180 CATS over a 1 year full-time or 2 year part-time basis) and Distance Learning courses are not eligible.
Postgraduate courses leading to a Doctoral qualification (such as a PhD or MPhil) are not eligible for this award. If you are interested in a Doctoral programme, you can find out more about Warwick's Sanctuary Scholarships for Doctoral study online hereLink opens in a new window.
Priority will be given to applicants who have not obtained a Postgraduate Taught degree, a Postgraduate Research degree or a degree-equivalent qualification from another institution or country.
The PGT Sanctuary Scholarships scheme is now open for 2025 entry. The deadline for applications is 18:00pm on Friday 6th June.
Please read through all of the eligibility criteria and then follow the steps below to apply.
Evidence of your Sanctuaryand Educational eligibility for the scholarship, along with evidence of your right to study (if you do not think you have the right to study, or if you have ‘no study’ immigration bail conditions, please contact us at lifecycleteam@warwick.ac.uk for support)
A supporting statement answering 3 key questions about your previous experiences and achievements, along with your future plans
A reference (maximum of 750 words) and your referee's contact details (this should be someone who knows you in a professional capacity, such as a lecturer, social worker or solicitor)
3. PGT Sanctuary Scholarships applicants will be reviewed and assessed by a panel after the application deadline (Friday 6th June 2025). If you do not meet the eligibility criteria and are therefore ineligible for the scholarship, we will aim to inform you as soon as possible after you have submitted your application so that you can explore alternative funding options.
4. Outcomes of eligible PGT Sanctuary Scholarship applications will be communicated to applicants by 18th July 2025.
Refugee status, Ukraine schemes and Afghan schemes
If you are ineligible, or unsuccessful, for the Postgraduate Taught Sanctuary Scholarships additional support may be available to you from the university or UK government:
Financial support
Refugees and students on the Ukraine and Afghan schemes are usually eligible for postgraduate financial support from the UK government (such as a Masters Loan). For more information about this, please take a look at our Student Funding Support pagesLink opens in a new window.
Pastoral support
All students have access to a range of support services while studying at Warwick, including:
Each student also has a personal tutor who they can reach out to for additional support when they study at the University. There is more information about the student support services on offer at Warwick on this webpage.Link opens in a new window
If you are not eligible for a Postgraduate Sanctuary Scholarship because you have not sought sanctuary from the UK government please visit our Scholarships search toolLink opens in a new windowto find out about other scholarships which you may be able to apply for.
Application assessment
All eligible scholarship applications will be assessed by a panel. The panel will take into account your:
Eligibility for the scholarship, based on the criteria above
Previous qualifications and educational experience
Supporting statement
Reference
We will notify eligible applicants of their application outcome by 18th July 2025.
Warwick Postgraduate place: You must accept your place on your Postgraduate Taught course before you accept your scholarship offer.
Terms & Conditions: Warwick Postgraduate Sanctuary Scholarships are payable in each academic year of your course (1 year for full-time students and 2 years for part-time students). If you (or your parents or spouse/civil partner) are granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK, and you become able to access UK Government Student Financial Support (Tuition and Maintenance loans), your award will still continue for the duration of your studies. This is outlined in the Postgraduate Sanctuary Scholarship Terms and Conditions, which will be sent to you before you enrol.
Right to Study: Successful applicants must have the right to study in order to take up their University of Warwick place and UG Sanctuary Scholarship. You will be asked to provide evidence of your right to study on the application form. If you do not have the right to study, you may be able to challenge this - please contact us atlifecycleteam@warwick.ac.ukfor more information about this.
UK bank accounts: At this time we are only able to make Postgraduate Sanctuary Scholarship payments into a UK bank account. You may find our webpages on opening a UK bank accountLink opens in a new window useful.
National Asylum Support Service (NASS) and legal aid: If you are currently in receipt of National Asylum Support Service (NASS)Link opens in a new window and/or legal aidLink opens in a new window we recommend you seek advice from your immigration solicitor before accepting the award, as receiving this scholarship could have implications on your ongoing NASS entitlement and eligibility for legal aid.
Deferring your studies: If you are awarded a Postgraduate Taught Sanctuary Scholarship but do not meet all your academic conditions, your scholarship offer cannot be deferred. If you defer your course entry start date in order to achieve your offer conditions, you will have to apply again for Sanctuary Scholarship for your new year of entry. If you meet the academic conditions of your offer and wish to defer your start date to 2026 you must first obtain approval to defer from both your academic department and the Sanctuary Scholarships team.
