Brunel Sanctuary Scholarship 2027/8

The Brunel Sanctuary Scholarship supports people who have fled persecution and are seeking asylum in the UK by providing access to higher education. Introduced in 2018, the scholarship is available to new applicants with an offer to study a full-time Undergraduate course at Brunel University London or Brunel Pathway College (BPC), starting in September 2027.

The scholarship provides eligible applicants identified as ‘refugees’ with:

• Full tuition fee waiver for each year of the eligible course.
• Free on-campus accommodation in a single-occupancy ensuite room for up to 52 weeks per year, subject to availability and the applicant’s circumstances. There is no cash alternative for students living off campus.

The scholarship is available for up to four years for a full-time Undergraduate course, including a Foundation year, or five years for a sandwich course including a Foundation year or the Medicine MBBS.

No fee waiver applies during the placement year of a sandwich course or the integrated Master’s year, as the latter already receives a partial fee waiver. Scholarship recipients will still receive free ensuite accommodation during the integrated Master’s year.

Students will be allocated the lowest-band ensuite room available.

How many: 5 scholarships in total.

Application process: Applicants should apply for the scholarship by completing the application form by midnight on 23^rd April 2027. Applicants must submit evidence of immigration status alongside the application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applicants must submit evidence of their immigration status by emailing the Scholarship Team on Scholarships@brunel.ac.uk, evidence should be submitted by the application deadline. Failure to do so will mean that we cannot assess your scholarship application and you will not be awarded a scholarship.

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria to be considered for a Scholarship. The Scholarship Allocation Panel will then shortlist applicants based on the application and supporting evidence.

Short listed applicants will be invited to attend a short, informal interview to assess suitability, discuss how they plan to manage student life, and explain the scholarship conditions.

Scholarship recipients must remain in regular contact with the Student Support and Welfare Team throughout the year by e-mail and through termly meetings. This is a condition of the scholarship.

a) We will consider applications from applicants with the following ‘immigration status’:

• Asylum Seeker-approved application (provided no conditions have been imposed by the Home Office that prohibits study or restricts study to another institution)
• Refugee status obtained (this includes the Syrian Vulnerable Person Relocation Scheme or similar schemes.
• Discretionary Leave to Remain as the result of an asylum claim.
• Humanitarian Protection.
• Immigration settlement in the UK as a result of the Family Reunion scheme.
• Limited leave to remain in the UK as a family member (aged under 18) of a refugee.
• Limited leave to remain granted on Human Rights grounds.

To be considered for the Scholarship applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Must have applied to study at Brunel for the 2027/28 academic year. Sanctuary Scholarship applications will not be considered unless a Brunel application has been submitted.
• Must hold an offer of a place on a full-time Undergraduate course.
• Offer must be ‘Unconditional Firm’ (UF) by 31 August 2027 (i.e. applicant must have met all offer conditions and firmly accepted the place).
• Applicants who select Brunel as their Insurance choice will no longer be eligible for the scholarship and will forfeit any provisional scholarship award made to them. Applicants who withdraw, decline, or reapply through Clearing after an unsuccessful application will no longer be eligible for the scholarship and will forfeit any provisional award.
• Must be classed as a home fee paying student based on the UK government regulations. Applicants who are unsure of their fee status should note Brunel uses the information they have provided in their application form to assess fee status against regulations set by the UK government. In such cases applicants will be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire. Where an applicant cannot be allocated home fees and are allocated International fees, they will not be eligible for the scholarship. For information on these regulations please visit the independent organisation UKCisa’s website.
• Must hold an eligible immigration status listed above that permits registration at Brunel University of London. Must commence the course in the upcoming academic year (applicants for deferred entry will not be considered for a scholarship and must apply in the year they start their course and not in the year of their course application).

b.Those not eligible for this Scholarship

• Applicants classed as Overseas or Channel Islands/Isle of Man for fees purposes based on the UK government regulations, or those with an unresolved fee status. For 2027/28 entry, European fee payers who are not eligible for home fees under the UK government regulations will not be eligible.
• Applicants entering a course with the Brunel Language Centre (BLC).
• Applicants entering a course at FHEQ Level 5 (year 2) or FHEQ Level 6 (year 3) will not be considered for any scholarship or bursary.
• Applicants who have already obtained an undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification in any country.
• Students currently enrolled on a course at Brunel University of London or Brunel Pathway College.
• Applicants coming to the University through Clearing.

d. Proof of Eligibility (evidence)

Applicants must be able to verify their immigration status and are required to provide evidence in the form of a:

• Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
• Home Office letter confirming immigration status
• Passport with vignettes
• Application registration card (asylum)

The University will verify applicants’ immigration status by contacting the Home Office. Applicants must consent to this verification as part of the Scholarship application form.

e. Submission of evidence

Applicants must submit evidence of their immigration status by the scholarship application deadline. This evidence will be verified by the Brunel Immigration Team. Incomplete applications, including those without the required evidence, will not be considered by the Scholarship Allocation Panel.

Applicants who are not eligible for the scholarship can visit Student Action for Refugees (STAR) for further information regarding other sources of funding for access and pre-sessional programmes.

3.1 Eligibility criteria are reviewed annually.

3.2 The scholarship is assessed in 3 phases:

- Phase 1: After the 23^{rd of} April 2027 deadline, applications will be assessed against the eligibility criteria outlined in these terms and conditions. This includes confirmation of the applicant’s immigration status.

- Phase 2: Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria will go on to be considered by the Scholarship Allocation Panel in May/June 2027.

- Phase 3: Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and are selected by the Scholarship Allocation Panel will be invited to an informal interview in June 2027. Interviews will be held on campus and online.

Unsuccessful applicants will be contacted shortly after each assessment phase.

3.3 Applicants are considered for the scholarship using the information provided at the time of their application only and cannot be considered should their circumstances change during their studies. Scholarships cannot be backdated.

3.4 Scholarships will be awarded provisionally in June and then reviewed at the end of August following receipt of examination results. Any applicant that has been rejected by default (RBD) by UCAS, withdrawn in error, declined the offer or is not holding an Unconditional Firm offer must contact the Admissions Scholarship Team. The provisional scholarship will be considered withdrawn unless outstanding information is provided to the Scholarship Team, that will allow the award to be retained and enable Admissions to make an unconditional offer and firmly accept that offer by 1^st September.

3.5 Scholarships will be formally confirmed in September; successful applicants will be contacted by email.

3.6 Only one scholarship can be paid to any one student in any one year. Applicants awarded the Sanctuary Scholarship will not be eligible for any other scholarship, bursary or University discount.

3.7 If an applicant is eligible for more than one scholarship/bursary, usually they will be awarded the one which will be the most financially beneficial across the full course duration.

3.8 The decision of the Scholarship Allocation Panel is final. Any appeals in respect of the allocation process should be referred to the admissions policy. An appeal will only be considered in line with procedural irregularities, where a student believes that the University has not followed the procedures stated within the relevant Scholarship or Bursary Terms and Conditions and there is reasonable doubt as to whether the outcome might have been different had the error not occurred. Any appeals relating to Scholarship or Bursary allocation must be lodged within the student’s first academic year at the University. Brunel will not be able to consider later appeals.

4.1 Fee waiver

The tuition fee will be waived each year of a full time Undergraduate course up to a maximum of four years for a full time Undergraduate course, including foundation year (or for five years of a sandwich course or Medicine MBBS programme). The fee waiver will not be applied in a repeat year, the placement year of a sandwich course, or in the integrated Masters year of an Integrated Master’s programme because the final year of an Integrated Masters is already subject to a partial fee waiver.

This is provided that the progression criteria as shown in section 4 of these Terms and Conditions, have been met.

4.2 Accommodation payment waiver

• Brunel University London will provide continued single occupancy accommodation in one of Brunel’s Halls of Residence each year, on an annual basis (up to a maximum of 52 weeks, depending on the applicant’s circumstances), a lower band ensuite room will be provided. Applicants requesting any room type other than a lower band ensuite accommodation will be asked to pay the difference in value.
• Accommodation will be provided for a maximum of four years for a full time Undergraduate course, including foundation year (or for five years of a sandwich course), accommodation will be provided in the placement year of a sandwich course, if the student wishes to stay on campus and in an Integrated Masters year. Integrated master’s students will be offered the lowest band ensuite available in years 1 – 3 and in the Integrated Masters year.
• Accommodation will be provided on the basis that the progression criteria as shown in section 4 of these Terms and Conditions have been met and that student has not subsequently been banned from staying in Halls of Residence.
• Students repeating a year of study are not supported by additional scholarship payments. Accommodation may be provided during repeat years, however students will be expected to pay the rental payments from their own personal funds.
• No rental charges will be applied to accommodation, unless a higher band room is selected by the student.
• Students will be expected to comply with the usual rules and regulations specifically regarding fines/damages and eligibility to live on campus (for example residents who are no longer students would be asked to vacate campus accommodation). Residence Regulations and Policies can be found here. Applicants are advised to read the Regulations and Policies in full.
• Accommodation will be provided until 9.30 am on 30^th June of the student’s final year of studies.
• The Undergraduate accommodation contract period runs from September to June; dates are yet to be confirmed. If a first-year student requests early arrival before the arrival date in September 2026 this is chargeable to the student, the final deadline for early arrival dates is to be confirmed.
• Room allocation application deadlines apply to all accommodation: The University cannot guarantee rooms to any student who applies after the application deadline. For new students this will be on 31 August 2026 and for returning students it will be in March 2026, date to be confirmed. After these dates rooms are subject to availability.
• The students will not be placed in the same accommodation (room, or Halls) throughout their time at Brunel and will be required to change rooms annually or as required by the Student Living Allocations Team.

4.3 Application of fee waiver/Accommodation Payment Waiver

• Fee waivers/Accommodation payment waivers will only be applied providing the student is enrolled at the University on an undergraduate degree programme of study at the time of the payment.
• Fee waivers/Accommodation payment waivers in subsequent years will only be applied providing the student progresses to the next level of study.
• Where a scholarship spans more than one year, students will be written to in September (or when progression is determined) to confirm ongoing eligibility to receive their scholarship award.
• Accommodation payment waiver will only apply for on-campus accommodation. There is no cash alternative for applicants living off campus.
• Students who wish to upgrade their room to a higher band ensuite or studio flat would be required to pay an additional top up payment of rent from their own personal funds as well as paying for any administration costs.
• Students who vacate their room early may not be eligible for accommodation for the remainder of the year.

4.4 In the unlikely event that Brunel Student Living Allocations Team are unable to secure on campus accommodation, the University will endeavor to provide alternative accommodation or contribute to accommodation costs as appropriate. This will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

5.1 Misleading information: The University reserves the right to withdraw a scholarship from anyone who is found to have misled the University about any aspect of their eligibility and to seek repayment of any monies already paid by appropriate means.

5.2 Mode of Attendance Change: If a student changes to a different mode of study, their eligibility for a scholarship will be reviewed. The scholarship will be withdrawn if the change is from full time to part time.

5.3 Deferred entry: If a student defers entry the scholarship will be withdrawn. Applicants for deferred entry will not be considered for a scholarship and must apply in the year they start their course and not in the year of their course application.

5.4 Changing course and starting again at FHEQ Level 4 (year 1): Students who commence their studies and subsequently make an alteration that involves starting again at FHEQ Level 4 (year 1) will not be eligible for a new award against the new course. The existing scholarship will be placed on hold and reinstated once the student commences FHEQ Level 5 (year 2), subject to meeting the annual bursary progression criteria outlined in Section 4. If a student changes course but remains at the same level of study, this will not have an impact on the award.

5.5 Abeyance/Temporary Withdrawal: A student who takes a period of temporary withdrawal (abeyance) and who is in receipt of a scholarship award would cease to receive the accommodation waiver whilst temporarily withdrawn. Scholarship awards made prior to temporarily withdrawing will not generally be requested to be repaid and remaining payments will generally be paid once the student returns to complete that level of study. Accommodation will not be provided during periods of abeyance.

5.6 Suspension of Study and exclusion from study: Should a student be temporarily suspended for any reason, there is no amendment to the tuition fee waiver, permanent exclusion will result in scholarship payments being withdrawn. Accommodation will not be provided during periods of suspension where the student is no longer fully enrolled at the University.

5.7 Repeat/Extended Study: Periods of temporary withdrawal that result in repeat or extended periods of study are not supported by additional scholarship payments. Scholarship entitlement is for the maximum duration of each award and entitlement is not extended if overall course duration alters. Accommodation would be provided during repeat years, however the student would be expected to make the rental payments from their own personal funds.

5.8 Withdrawal from Study: A student who withdraws from their programme prior to completion and who is in receipt of a scholarship award will not normally be requested to repay accommodation costs made up to the point of withdrawal. Allocation of accommodation ceases immediately if a student withdraws, in such cases the Accommodation Centre will contact the students and advise on the process. In the case of withdrawal or abeyance the tuition fee and the fee waiver are calculated in accordance with the Student Financial Policy. Should a student’s immigration status change after you register/enrol at the University to one that prohibits study at Brunel, this would also lead to withdrawal from study and therefore the award. Accommodation will not be provided to students who withdraw from study.

5.9 Amendment of Fee Waivers: Fee waivers applied at the start of an academic year as part/all a scholarship entitlement will not be amended once the fee waiver has been processed. Any tuition fee liability remaining after fee waivers are applied would therefore be calculated in accordance with Student Financial Policy.

Any queries relating to these terms and conditions should be addressed to the Admissions Office by emailing: scholarships@brunel.ac.uk

Updated 22 October 2026