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Published: 28 Feb 2025 1,067 views
The University of Sanctuary Scholarship is available to new Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Masters students taking up a place to study in 2025-2026, who have UK Asylum status or Discretionary/Limited Leave to Remain as a result of an asylum application, and those with Humanitarian Protection, as result of an asylum application or through a dependants claim.
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| Application Deadline | 23 May 2025 |
| Country to study | United Kingdom |
| School to study | University of Essex |
| Type | Postgraduate |
| Sponsor | University of Essex |
| Gender | Men and Women |
The scholarship includes:
A full tuition fee waiver on a one-year full time Postgraduate Taught Masters programme
University accommodation
£6,000 to support living and study costs
Immigration status: Eligibility will be based on the following permissions being granted by the Home Office and alignment with UNHCR guidelines:
A refugee (subject to obtaining an appropriate permissions), or
Granted Refugee or Humanitarian Protection status, or
Discretionary Leave to Remain, or
Limited Leave to Remain following an asylum application, individually or through a dependent’s
Claim, or be seeking asylum within the UK University of Essex Page 2 of 6
Leave to remain must cover the duration of your studies
A recognised refugee in a third country who obtains the appropriate visa from the UK to study here for the duration of that degree programme.
These scholarships are restricted to students who are Home UK or overseas fee payers and are entirely self-funded*.
All applicants must have received a conditional or unconditional offer to study an eligible Postgraduate programme at the University of Essex before you can apply for the Sanctuary Scholarship.
Students must register for the first year (Year1) of a full-time Masters degree at the University of Essex in October 2025.
This scholarship may not be held in conjunction with other University awards, except for the Refugee Bursary. Students who are eligible for this award and are joining Essex through a link agreement, which includes a discounted fee, will receive the award which is greater in value.
Successful applicants should be available for promotional activities.
Eligible Postgraduate Taught programmes
There are two streams of the scholarship:
(i) one-year Human Rights PGT Masters programmes and
(ii) all other one-year PGT Masters programmes. One scholarship will be awarded for each of the streams, however if a suitable candidate is not identified we may award both scholarships to one stream.
See further detail below:
Stream 1: Human rights programmes, including:
LLM Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
LLM International Human Rights Law
LLM International Human Rights Law (Economic Relations)
LLM International Humanitarian Law
MA Theory and Practice of Human Rights
MA Refugee Care
Stream 2: All other one-year PGT Masters programmes, excluding the Human Rights programmes listed in stream 1.
Students who are not eligible
The following students are NOT eligible for this scholarship regardless of meeting the above criteria:
Students undertaking a degree that is normally delivered wholly online.
Courses below Masters level: including, but not limited to, Graduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas, Postgraduate Certificates (PGCerts), and Postgraduate Diplomas (PGDips).
This scholarship award does not apply to deferred entry. Where a scholarship has been awarded to a student who subsequently defers entry to the following academic year, the award will be withdrawn and the applicant will be considered again in line with the terms and conditions that apply in the new proposed year of entry.
Students who are fully or partly sponsored.
Students progressing from a University of Essex International College programme.
Current students whose first year of Postgraduate study at the University of Essex, was prior to academic year 2025-26.
Students transferring from another higher education institution.
Apply for the Sanctuary Scholarship using the application form provided on the information page and send to [email protected], along with evidence of your immigration status, and a letter of reference.
The deadline for applications will close on:
For more details visit: University of Essex website.
