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Undergraduate study

Teesside Sanctuary award for students seeking asylum

Investing in your future

Teesside University is committed to the economic, social and cultural success of our students and local communities. The University embraces diversity and opposes prejudice and injustice.

The Sanctuary award covers your course fees and contributes towards your other study costs through a learning bursary, which is made up of two payments within each academic year. The first is paid once you have enrolled on your course, and the second at the start of semester two.

Each award application is considered by a panel and shortlisted candidates may be invited to attend an interview.

Five scholarships available for the 2024-25 academic year.

Our Sanctuary award offers support for up to five students, three on undergraduate courses and two on postgraduate courses. It is not open to postgraduate doctoral study applicants.

Teesside Sanctuary award eligibility

You may apply for a Teesside Sanctuary award if you meet the below criteria:

Your current immigration status in the UK must fall into one of the below categories:

  • you are currently seeking asylum in the UK, or are a dependant, spouse or civil partner* of someone seeking asylum in the UK.
  • you hold Limited Leave to Remain, or another form of temporary immigration status granted as a result of seeking asylum in the UK, or you are the dependant, spouse or civil partner* of someone who falls into this category.

*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.

You must be able to provide up-to-date documentary evidence of your current immigration status in the UK, for example, BRP card, ARC card, BAIL 201 letter, or other forms of immigration documents confirming your temporary immigration status in the UK and showing that you have no restriction on your right to study in the UK.

In addition to the above, you must meet all of the below criteria:

  • You have been offered a place (conditional or unconditional) on a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate course at Teesside University before applying for the Sanctuary award and before the scholarship application deadline date
  • You meet any required English language conditions as part of your course offer (you will be advised if you are required to take an English language test as a condition of your offer)
  • You are unable to access UK government student finance (tuition fee loans or maintenance loans/grants) by virtue of your immigration status
  • Your immigration history does not show that you have reached ‘appeal rights exhausted’ following an unsuccessful asylum claim (you will need to provide your written consent for us to contact UKVI to obtain a full immigration history)
  • You live within easy commuting distance of Teesside University
  • You do not require support for living expenses or accommodation.

Note: The above criteria is subject to change at any time, in line with any relevant Home Office changes.

If successful, the Teesside Sanctuary award is payable in each standard academic year of your course. This is unless, you receive a positive decision on your asylum application and you (or your spouse or civil partner) are granted Refugee Status, Humanitarian Protection, or another form of leave to remain that allows access to student finance. If this happens, you must inform the University as soon as possible so that your circumstances and continuing eligibility for the sanctuary award can be re-assessed.

You would be expected to apply to Student Finance England, for tuition fee loans or maintenance loans/grants from the start of the academic year immediately after the date you (or your spouse or civil partner) are granted Refugee Status or Humanitarian Protection, or another form of leave to remain that allows access to student finance.

In addition to covering your course fees, the Sanctuary award can help to cover your other study costs (including travel, IT equipment and books) in the form of a learning bursary up to a maximum of £600 a year, paid in two instalments in each academic year.

How to apply

Closing date for applications: 13 May 2024.

 
 
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