Home to students and staff from more than 140 countries
across the world, we are an inclusive, welcoming and diverse community
dedicated to learning and the student experience, research and innovation, and
engaging with our communities whether local, regional, national or
international.
We promote access to Higher Education for people who have
fled persecution and sought asylum in the UK, providing support and scholarships
through the Article 26 Award.
The University of
Kent, in partnership with the Article 26 Project offers each year up to 5
Article 26 awards for undergraduate entry. These awards are aimed at helping
those seeking asylum in the UK to progress to higher education. The benefits of
the Sanctuary Scholarship award are:
- Each recipient’s
tuition fees will be waived for the duration of their programme of study or
until they are able to access Student Finance England funding at the University
of Kent (undergraduate programmes only)
- The recipients will
be eligible to receive financial support from the University of Kent to cover
the cost of travel (to the University or for group support), books, equipment,
etc. This is a bursary payment of £2000 at the start of the academic year
- The Students will
be allocated an Adviser from Student Services to support them during their
studies and to help access any support services and this will be a chance to
check in and get extra support when or if it is needed.
The University Kent is in the process of applying for University of Sanctuary status. As part of the City of Sanctuary movement, the Universities of Sanctuary network aims to ‘make Higher Education institutions places of safety, solidarity and empowerment for people seeking sanctuary’.
To help ensure that the University’s application process is properly reflective and self-critical, the Migration and Movement Signature Research Theme held a series of seminars throughout the year that addressed the question ‘What is Sanctuary?’ Speakers from a range of disciplines, career stages and backgrounds discussed what sanctuary means and entails.
The University is a signatory to the City of Sanctuary Charter, is
applying for University of Sanctuary status and is looking to develop links
with other Universities of Sanctuary and with other applicant universities.
Please
support our Sanctuary fund. You can help refugees and asylum seekers pursue
their dreams and contribute to our community.
£1
= £2.50!
Thanks to a generous supporter, every gift to the Sanctuary Fund
this season will be matched, meaning that with Gift Aid, every pound you give
now is worth two pounds fifty!
I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for the Article 26 award for providing me with the opportunity to resume my studies and pursue my academic goals. Your belief in my potential has been a driving force behind my success."
How we support
Through academic research, public engagement activities and collaborations with partners, we work hard to use our platform to be an advocate for tolerance and understanding and respect for all displaced people.
supporting CARA (Council for At Risk Academics) in its work to provide urgently-needed help to academics in immediate danger, those forced into exile, and many who choose to work on in their home countries despite serious risks.
Kent Law Clinic staff and students have been involved in a project to deliver legal advice workshops to asylum seekers residing at Napier Barracks, in collaboration with local charities Samphire and Napier Drop-In. Read more about their involvement.
Refugee Week 2023
Refugee Week (19-25 June) is a UK-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.
At Kent, we seek to enable people from different backgrounds to connect beyond labels. We want to help our whole community to understand why people are displaced and the challenges they face when seeking safety, and develop a curious and compassionate approach to the topic of seeking refuge and asylum.
‘Refugee Tales are shared insights and experiences that not only serve to educate us all, but are also an opportunity to highlight the challenge that is still before us as we look to end the UK’s practice of indefinite detention".
Refugee Tales Project
Through books, walks and gatherings, the Refugee Tales
project has been giving voice to asylum seekers and refugees in the UK since
2015.
We are working on a number of urgent and practical
steps in collaboration with local and national partners to support those
impacted by the conflict in Ukraine.
