Scholarships for Refugee Students: A Global Guide
Universities worldwide provide scholarships, grants, and bursaries to refugee students. This guide will help you explore the financial support available for those with refugee status.
Scholarships for Students with Refugee Status
The higher education sector plays a crucial role in supporting asylum seekers and refugees. Many institutions offer financial aid to students forced to leave their home countries. Each scholarship has its own eligibility criteria, deadlines, and funding levels.
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Universities also provide practical assistance—offering protection and financial support to help refugee students access higher education.
Below is a list of some available scholarships, but there are many more out there. Use this as a starting point and do your own research to find the best fit.
Additional Resources for Refugee Students:
- UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency): Lists higher education opportunities for refugees globally. While not scholarship-focused, it offers advice and resources.
Related Reads:
- Navigating UK universities as a refugee
- From Syrian refugee to UK student
- The journey from Gaza to Oxbridge
- How universities are supporting refugees
Support for Ukrainian Students
- Cara (Council for At-Risk Academics): Helps academics in conflict zones (including Ukraine and Syria) with relocation and financial aid.
- Sewa International (Europe): Assists international students evacuating from 18 Ukrainian cities to Poland, Romania, and Hungary.
UK University Scholarships for Refugees
- Imperial College London: £250,000 fund for displaced students (including Ukrainians).
- University of Lincoln: Support for 15 undergrads and 5 postgrads transferring from Ukrainian universities (tuition waivers + accommodation).
- University of Edinburgh: Scholarships for displaced Ukrainian undergrads (flexible admissions for language/document challenges).
- University of York: Full scholarships for Afghan and Ukrainian students (tuition, travel, accommodation).
- Article 26 & Sanctuary Scholarships: Covers full tuition + £15,285 bursary at multiple UK universities (Bristol, Keele, Manchester, etc.).
- Eligibility: Must have asylum seeker/refugee status, household income under £25,000, and no access to UK student finance.
- Birkbeck, University of London (Compass Project): 20 tuition waivers + bursaries yearly.
- University of Bath: Up to £7,000 for refugee/humanitarian protection students.
- University of Cambridge (Rowan Williams Studentship): Full funding for students from conflict zones (no formal refugee status required).
- University of Dundee: Postgrad tuition + stipend for asylum seekers/refugees.
- Goldsmiths, University of London: Full tuition + £8,825 allowance (4 awards yearly).
Student Action for Refugees lists 70+ UK scholarships for refugees/asylum seekers.
US University Scholarships
- Charterup National Scholarship: $10,000 for refugee students.
- Students of Salaam Scholarship: Four $3,000 awards + mentorship.
- Columbia University: Full tuition + living costs.
- Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships: 30 awards ($90,000 each) for immigrants/refugees in grad school.
Australian University Scholarships
- ANU Humanitarian Scholarship: Full tuition + stipend (Bridging Visa holders).
- Monash University: Full tuition + AUD$6,000 stipend.
- University of the Sunshine Coast: Full tuition + AUD$4,000 stipend (2 awards yearly).
Check Australia’s Refugee Education Group for more options.
Canadian University Scholarships
- World University Service Canada: Sponsors refugees from Syria, Lebanon, Kenya, etc. (tuition waived for first year).
- University of Waterloo (David Johnston Awards): Bursaries for Student Refugee Programme participants.
Other Global Scholarships
- University of Łódź (Poland): Fee waivers for Ukrainian students.
- Central European University (OLIve-UP): Fully funded prep programme for refugees in Europe.
- UNHCR/JELA (Japan): Vocational education funding for refugees.
- Borderless Higher Education for Refugees: Tuition support at York University (Canada) and Kenyatta University (Kenya).
- Albert Einstein Academic Refugee Initiative (Germany): Scholarships for refugees in host countries.
