Fees and funding

Sanctuary Scholarship

The University of Hull is proud to be part of the growing network of Universities of Sanctuary. As part of this, the Sanctuary Scholarship aims to provide financial support to up to three entrants seeking asylum in the UK.

About this award

Through the Sanctuary Scholarship, the University provides assistance to up to three new students each year. We welcome applications for those interested in pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate programmes of study.

The scholarship includes a complete waiver of tuition fees, an annual £2,000 grant to help with study-related costs, and dedicated personal support throughout the duration of the degree - subject to continued eligibility.

What you'll get

Full tuition fee waiver and annual £2,000 study grant

Who's it for?

Undergraduate or postgraduate students

Who's eligible?

People who have entered the UK seeking sanctuary

How to apply

To apply for the Sanctuary Scholarship, simply follow the steps below. We recommend reading the Application Guidance Notes first, as they include helpful information to guide you through the application process.

Application guidance notes

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Undergraduate applications for asylum seekers

If you are an asylum seeker applying for an undergraduate programme, email the HE funding team first.

We will advise you on the correct application route and send you the relevant application form where applicable.¹

Find and apply for your course

Explore our undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research degrees, find the one that’s right for you, and make your application.

Once you’ve applied, you’ll receive an application number starting in the format “202XXXXXX” – you’ll need this later.

Need help applying for a course?

Find out all you need to know by following one of our handy guides.

Undergraduate

Postgraduate taught

Postgraduate research

Apply for the Sanctuary Scholarship

Once you’ve completed your application for your course, you’ll need to complete the Sanctuary Scholarship application form.

This form gives you the opportunity to tell us about yourself and why you’re applying. It will also help us to confirm your eligibility, and whether you need help taking an English language test (the University offers a limited number of free tests each year to help with this).

Please note that application deadline to be considered for this opportunity for September 2026 entry has now passed.

Outcome of your application

Once the University has assessed both your application to study, and your scholarship application, we will let you know whether we can make you an offer.

If you receive an unconditional offer, you’ve met all of the requirements to study at Hull and there’s nothing more to do at this stage.

If you receive a conditional offer, we’ll need more information from you, or need you to meet certain conditions before we can make your offer unconditional. You’ll need to meet all of the conditions on your offer letter by no later than 26 June 2026. If you confirmed that you need to take an English language test, we’ll reach out to you by email about this.

Didn’t receive an offer?

Depending on the reason for rejection, you may be able to look into making an application for an alternative programme of study – just let us know via your Hull Applicant Portal.

Interviews

If you’re shortlisted for the Sanctuary Scholarship, you will need to attend an interview. We will contact any shortlisted applicants by week commencing 3 July 2026 with details about your interview.

Interviews are expected to take place during week commencing 20 July 2026.

Final decision

If you are successful in your application for the Sanctuary Scholarship, we will let you know. You can then simply follow the normal University guidance, and enrol to start your studies in September 2026.

Eligibility

To be considered for a University of Hull Sanctuary Scholarship applicants must:

Be offered a place to study on their chosen course at the University
Live within commuting distance² at the point of application (anyone who needs to relocate cannot be considered)
Not require assistance with accommodation costs or living expenses
Be seeking asylum in the UK, or be the dependent or spouse of someone seeking asylum OR have been granted Discretionary/Limited Leave to Remain following an application for asylum, or be the dependent or spouse of someone who meets the aforementioned criteria

The following groups of students are not eligible to be considered for a University of Hull Sanctuary Scholarship:

Applicants who are eligible for UK Government student financial support
Applicants who are eligible for UK Government student financial support in principle but cannot receive it for their chosen course due to previous Higher Education study
Continuing students at the University of Hull
MBBS students (studying at the Hull York Medical School)
Students undertaking a Hull Online course

Some of our courses, typically healthcare and education subjects, require students to pass a DBS check. If it is not possible to obtain a DBS check for you, you may not be able to study your chosen course. If we can offer an alternative course, we will.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK you may not be able to take part in work placements, even where these are an integral part of the course. If you apply for a course which is unsuitable we will advise you of your options.

Students who meet the eligibility criteria for the award but who are not successful will be eligible for the Sanctuary Fee Reduction.

Policy information

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Get in touch

Need some further guidance? We're here to help.

Most undergraduate applicants who are seeking asylum can apply using a direct application form rather than UCAS. However, professional courses (for example Nursing and other medical programmes) must be applied for through UCAS because of legal and regulatory requirements. If you're unsure, contact the HE Funding team first and we can advise and support you.

We will generally regard those living within 40 miles of the University of Hull campus as living within commuting distance. Applications from those outside of this area will only be considered where the candidate can demonstrate they have a clear and realistic plan for commuting to the University and will be able to engage fully with their course.