University of Leicester Sanctuary Scholarships 2026

The Scholarships will be awarded to up to four applicants wishing to begin their studies at the University of Leicester in September 2026 who can demonstrate that they have the ability to succeed academically, but face barriers to that success.

The number of awards available are:

• 2 x Undergraduate awards (3-year programmes only)
• 1 x Taught Masters award
• 1 x PhD award (3 years of funding)

• Table of Content
• About University of Leicester
• University of Leicester Undergraduate Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of University of Leicester Undergraduate Scholarship
• Requirements for University of Leicester Undergraduate Scholarship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

University of Leicester Undergraduate Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of University of Leicester Undergraduate Scholarship

• Each Sanctuary Scholarship consists of a tuition fee waiver, and a support package to be confirmed following assessment with our Welfare Service.

Requirements for University of Leicester Undergraduate Scholarship Qualification

• Candidates must hold an offer of a place to study full-time at the University of Leicester beginning in September 2026
• Candidates must not be prohibited from studying in the UK
• Candidates must be in the UK:
  • waiting for the outcome of an initial asylum claim or having submitted an appeal or fresh asylum claim following an asylum refusal 
  • or having been granted Discretionary or Limited Leave to remain in the UK, following an application for asylum in the UK 
  However, forced migrants who hold other immigration statuses (e.g. refugee or Humanitarian Protection status) may also be considered if they are unable to access Student Finance in the UK.
• Candidates must be unable to access mainstream funding in the UK, e.g. Student Finance 
• Candidates must have provided evidence of their identity and current immigration status in the UK to the Admissions Team by the deadline of 11.59pm on 19 April 2026. Accepted documents include (but are not limited to):
  • Share Code 
  • Asylum Registration Card (ARC) 
  • Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), even if expired 
  • BAIL 201 (must not include a ‘No Study’ condition) 
  • If none of the above are available: an expired passport or driving licence with recent Home Office correspondence. We will not accept solicitor’s documents.

Caveats and exclusions

• The scholarship is for September 2026 entry only: the award cannot be deferred to a different intake.
• The scholarship is for Year 1 entry of a degree course at the University of Leicester.
• The scholarship cannot be used for any NHS-funded courses (e.g. Medicine MBChB).
• The scholarship cannot be used for Distance Learning, Certificate or Diploma courses (for information about DL Sanctuary Awards, please refer to our academic scholarships and home fees page).
• The scholarship can only be used for full-time study.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Please send your documents to: 

• Undergraduate: [email protected] 
• Postgraduate Taught (MA and MSc): [email protected] 
• Postgraduate Research (PhD): [email protected] 

Important information: Your documents must clearly demonstrate that you are residing in the UK on the basis of an asylum claim made before submitting your Sanctuary Scholarship application.

Candidates must have completed the sanctuary scholarship application form fully (see below) by the deadline of 11.59pm on 19 April 2026 to be considered for the scholarship.

Please note, priority will be given to candidates who: 

• live locally in Leicester or at short commuting distance 
• have not previously obtained a degree at the same level

For more information, kindly visit University of Leicester scholarship webpage.