Lancaster announces additional Sanctuary Scholarships and Fellowships in response to the war in Ukraine.

Lancaster University has boosted its scholarship fund to offer five Sanctuary Scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate taught students who have sought refuge in the UK.

Lancaster Sanctuary Scholarships

• Five awards providing opportunities for those eligible students taking undergraduate and postgraduate courses with a full tuition-fee waiver
• In addition to a tuition fee waiver, students will be awarded a bursary of up to £5,000 a year towards living costs and course related expenses
• Free place in campus accommodation
• Undergraduate students will also have access to the Lancaster Success Programme, which includes one-to-one coaching with a student success coach

The application process will be via an online form which will remain open all year. Partial funding will be considered for students transferring to Lancaster mid-year.

See the Sanctuary Scholarship website for more details.

Lancaster Sanctuary Fellowships

Lancaster will also boost its support for academic refugees by providing an additional Sanctuary Fellowship and family support package, and plans to match fund a second Fellowship against further staff donations.

To achieve this, the University will continue to work closely with Cara - the Council for At Risk Academics - who are supporting academic Fellows in many countries. Cara match eligible candidates with UK placement opportunities and Lancaster University remains fully dedicated to supporting Cara in this work. To date, and with the support of our generous donors - many of whom are past and present members of staff, Lancaster University has been able to support three Sanctuary Fellows.

It costs up to £40,000 to support an academic and their family to live and work at Lancaster University for two years. Although temporary, the Sanctuary Fellowship represents a vital opportunity for academics to rebuild their careers, continue their research, and, if safe to do so, make plans to return home.

Details of how staff can donate to this fund are available on the University’s Sanctuary Fellowship website.

Commenting on the support for Ukraine, the Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Schofield said, “We are deeply saddened and worried by the war in Ukraine and our thoughts are with anyone who has been affected by these terrible events.

“In addition to the changes to the Sanctuary Scholarship for new students, we are also considering how to support the needs of displaced citizens, both now and in the future.

“Our current students and staff, who have been affected, can access a wide range of services, including our Wellbeing, Visa and Funding teams, which are reached via our Student and Education Services page.

“I know our colleges and academic departments are very keen to support anyone who may need assistance from them, and our Students’ Union has outlined what they have made available. A dedicated page on the Student Portal also explains the financial support available to students and how to request access (staff who wish to access the page can do so on the Staff Intranet).

“Students and staff may also approach our Chaplaincy, which offers pastoral support to those of all faiths and none.”

Lancaster will be applying to be recognised as a University of Sanctuary following refugee week 20 -26 June.