Article 26 Scholarship 

The University has launched a new Sanctuary Scholarship for 2022 entry, which provides support for up to five scholars and has replaced the Article 26 Scholarship. The information on this page relates to the previous, Article 26 award.  

Students receive a tuition fee waiver for a maximum of 3 years, as well as £5,000 in living cost support per year.

Eligibility Criteria 

  • You are unable to access mainstream UK student funding due to your residency status
  • You hold an offer to study an undergraduate degree programme at the University of Birmingham which you have made your first choice through UCAS
  • You must have submitted, or be a dependant* of someone who has submitted, an asylum application before you applied to the University through UCAS and you must be able to demonstrate that you applied for asylum on arrival in the UK and before an application to study was made to the University, OR you must be someone or a dependant* of someone who has been granted discretionary leave

*Spouses/ civil partners must have been the spouse/ civil partner on the date which the asylum application was made. Children/step-children must have been aged under 18 on the date on which the asylum application was made.

Meeting the eligibility criteria

Your application to the University:

  • You must have submitted an on-time application to the University through UCAS to study an undergraduate degree programme
  • You should have no prior experience of higher education (ie. this is your first degree) and intend to enter the first year of study of a main degree programme
  • You should hold a conditional firm offer to study an undergraduate degree programme at the University

Your application for asylum:

  • You must have submitted, or be the dependant* of someone who has submitted, an asylum application before you applied to the University through UCAS
  • You must be able to demonstrate that you applied for asylum on arrival in the UK and before an application to study was made to the University or you must be someone or a dependant* of someone who has been granted discretionary leave
  • You must provide documentation you have received from the Home Office in relation to your asylum or human rights claim with your scholarship application along with a University Authorisation form permitting the University to contact the Home Office about your immigration case

Application process

To be considered for this award you need to complete the Article 26 Scholarship application form

You will be asked to attached the following documents to your application form

  • A complete University Authorisation form permitting the University to contact the Home Office about your immigration case
  • Documentation from the Home Office confirming your immigration status
  • A reference from a member of staff at a school, college, community or voluntary group in the UK that you have attended.  You will also require your referees full contact details to submit along with your application

For information, the reference you supply should be no longer than 750 words and should answer the following questions: 

  • What are the applicant's personal and financial circumstances and what barriers have they overcome to continue their education?
  • What contributions, to the referee's knowledge, has the student made to college life and/or their community?
  • Is there any other information that the referee believes is relevant to the student's application?
  • How does the referee think the student would benefit from the scholarship?

 

Selection process

  • Your application will first be considered by the International Students Advisory Service who will confirm to the panel considering your application if your immigration status meets the criteria outlined here. The University will contact the Home Office to verify your immigration status in the UK
  • If your application is taken forward, we will invite you for an interview to clarify the information you have provided in your application and discuss any support needs you might have
  • All awards are discretionary and there is no appeal against a decision not to award a scholarship
  • If at any point during the application process or after you start your studies, we are informed by the Home Office that you should not be studying at the University, you will no longer be eligible for the award.  We will deem you withdrawn and you will be expected to leave your studies immediately.

Please note that this is a competitive process and only one applicant will be successful. 

Essential terms and conditions

Before you make an application you must read the following terms and conditions:

Change in asylum status during studies

  • Students must inform the International Student Advisory Service immediately if they receive any change to their Asylum Status
  • Students who have a change in their Asylum Status which means that they become eligible for student financial support from the government, are expected to make an application for support for the following academic year. For example, a first year undergraduate student with Asylum Seeker status who gains Refugee Status in November of their first year, would be expected to apply for government student support for all future academic years. If you would welcome support and guidance in making an application for student funding, please email fga@contacts.bham.ac.uk
  • Once government support has been awarded for the following academic year, your award will be removed 

Scholarship renewal

The scholarships will be awarded for the duration of your studies for a maximum of three years, and be renewable each year provided that the following conditions and above criteria continue to be met:

  • You must satisfactorily progress through to the next year of study on your chosen course;
  • You must continue to be registered full time on your course each year

Contact details

If you have any questions with regards to the Article 26 Scholarship, you can contact the Funding, Graduation & Awards team by email to: fga@contacts.bham.ac.uk