Brunel Sanctuary Scholarship Terms and Conditions

The Brunel Sanctuary scholarship is an extremely important step towards enabling people who have fled persecution and are seeking asylum in the UK to be given the opportunity to attend higher education. The scholarship was introduced in 2018 and is open to new applicants who have received an offer to study on a full time Undergraduate course at Brunel University London or the Brunel Pathway College (BPC) starting in September 2025.

Award details

The Brunel Sanctuary Scholarship is a full fee waiver available to full time applicants identified as ‘refugees’. As well as a full tuition fee waiver, successful applicants will receive free single occupancy accommodation in one of Brunel’s Halls of Residence’s in an ensuite room for up to 52 weeks.

The Scholarship will be paid once for each eligible level of study up to a maximum of four years for a full time Undergraduate course, including a Foundation year, (or for five years of a sandwich course, including a Foundation year). No fee waiver is applied in 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. Scholarship winners will be entitled to free ensuite room accommodation in the Integrated Masters year.

Value:

• A full tuition fee waiver per year of the chosen course.
• Guaranteed allocated and paid for on campus room accommodation in an ensuite room, per year for a maximum of 52 weeks, depending on the applicant’s circumstances (there is no cash alternative for applicants living off-campus). Students will be placed in 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 22^nd April 2025. Applicants must then submit evidence of immigration status. We will not be able to consider incomplete applications.

Evidence of immigration is required and must be sent to the Scholarship Team by email (Scholarships@brunel.ac.uk) by the application deadline. Failure to do so will mean that we cannot assess your scholarship application and no award will be given.

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. The interview will confirm students have considered how they are going to manage as a student and will allow Brunel representatives to explain scholarship conditions.

Students awarded the Sanctuary Scholarship will be required to remain in contact with the Student Support and Welfare Team throughout the year by e-mail and via termly meetings. This is a requirement if the scholarship is to be retained.

If an applicant selects Brunel as their Insurance choice they will no longer be considered for the scholarship and will lose any provisional scholarship award that has been made to them.

Eligibility

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.

The scholarship will be awarded to those applicants who also meet all the following eligibility criteria:

• Must have submitted an application to study at Brunel for the 2025/26 academic year, before the Sanctuary Scholarship application can be considered.
• 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. Applicants with recognised asylum seeker status may be granted Home fee’s at the discretion of the University. In such cases applicants will be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire. Where an applicant cannot be allocated discretionary 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 offer of a place on a full time Undergraduate course.
• Offer must be ‘Unconditional Firm’ (UF) by the date the Scholarship Allocation Panel make their formal awards in October (i.e. applicant must have met all offer conditions and firmly accepted the place).
• 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).
• Has an immigration status listed above, which would also permit registration at Brunel University London.

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 2025/26 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 London or Brunel Pathway College.

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)

Applicants are required to submit all evidence of immigration status alongside their scholarship application.

The University is required to verify an applicant’s immigration status by contacting the Home Office. Applicants will be asked for consent to do so in the Scholarship application form.

e. Submission of evidence

Applicants will be required to submit evidence as part of their scholarship application and by the given scholarship application deadline. Applicants who fail to provide evidence of Immigration status by this deadline will not be considered. Evidence of immigration status will be verified by the Brunel Immigration Team. Only full applications will be accepted and considered by the Scholarship Allocation Panel.

Applicants who cannot provide the required evidence by the scholarship deadline date will not be considered for a Scholarship.

For applicants not eligible for the scholarship please visit Student Action for Refugees (STAR) for further information regarding other sources of funding for access and pre-sessional programmes.

Allocation

3.1 Eligibility criteria are reviewed annually.

• The scholarship is assessed in 3 phases:

• Phase 1: After the deadline of the 22^nd April 2025, applicants will be considered for the scholarship in line with the eligibility criteria outlined in these terms and conditions. This includes confirmation of the applicant’s immigration status. Those applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will be contacted shortly after to confirm this.

• Phase 2: Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria will go on to be considered by the Scholarship Allocation Panel in May 2025.

• Phase 3: Applicants who successfully meet the eligibility criteria, have eligibility to study as a refugee or asylum seeker are selected to proceed by the Scholarship Allocation Panel will be invited to an informal interview, to be held in June 2025. Interviews will be held on campus.

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 the course of their studies. Scholarships cannot be backdated.

3.4 Scholarships will be awarded provisionally in June and then reviewed at the end of August. 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 will be contacted by the Admissions Scholarship Team. The scholarship award will be formally withdrawn unless the applicant can provide any outstanding information that will allow Admissions to make an unconditional offer and firmly accept that offer by the 1^st September.

3.5 Scholarships will be formally confirmed in September, following receipt of examination results, successful applicants will be contacted by email.

3.6 Only one scholarship can be paid to any one student in any one year with the exception of the Care Leaver Bursary. 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.

3.9 Where there are more applicants than number of awards, priority will be given to students within the Hillingdon Virtual School.

Payment

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). No fee waiver will be made 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 Masters 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.
• 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 in regards to 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 the end of 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 2025 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 is not able to guarantee rooms to any student who applies after the application deadline. For new students this will be in August 2025 and for returning students it is in March 2026, dates to be confirmed. After these dates rooms are subject to availability.
• The student 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 waiver 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 waiver in subsequent years will only be applied providing the student progresses to the next level of study.

• Accommodation payment waiver will only apply for on-campus accommodation. There is no cash alternative for applicants living off-campus.

• 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.
• 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.

Withdrawal of a scholarship

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 cease immediately if a student withdraws, in such cases the Accommodation Centre will contact the student 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 of 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

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

Updated 25 November 2024.