It's a good idea to contact course providers before you apply to discuss if they can offer your support, and what this might be. This will depend on your circumstances, and you'll need to let them know your refugee status.
Refugee and asylum seeker status
In the UK, a refugee is a person who has fled their country and is seeking protection because of a fear of being persecuted due to their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.
An asylum seeker is someone who has applied for refugee status and is waiting to find out if it has been granted.
There are a number of different official status options. The following list offers a simple overview – you can find full details on the UK Visas and Immigration website.
- Refugee – you have been given permission to stay in the UK, and granted official ‘refugee’ status. You have a letter from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to confirm this.
- Humanitarian protection – you have permission to stay in the UK for humanitarian reasons. You have a letter from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to confirm this.
- Asylum seeker – you're applying for asylum, or you're waiting for a decision.
- Limited leave to remain (LLR) or discretionary leave to remain (DLR) – you have been given permission to stay temporarily in the UK. You have a letter from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to confirm this.
- Ukrainian students studying in the UK – Ukrainian students studying in the UK who are granted leave under the Ukraine Family Scheme, the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, or the Ukraine Extension Scheme will be eligible for home fee status, if they also meet specific residency criteria.
Tuition fees and financial help
Course providers charge different tuition fees for different categories of students, so make sure you enter the correct status on your application. There are two main rates of fee:
- home status
- overseas status
Scotland and Northern Ireland each have a ‘middle rate’ fee for those moving from elsewhere in the UK to study.
Where you live and plan to study in the UK can affect your eligibility for student finance. Full details can be found on the UKCISA website by following the links below:
- England – tuition fees and student finance
- Scotland – tuition fees and student finance
- Wales – tuition fees and student finance
- Northern Ireland – tuition fees and student finance
If you need further help with your fee status, Coram Children’s Legal Centre can provide free legal advice.
If you're an asylum seeker
Asylum seekers are not usually eligible for either the ‘home’ rate of tuition fees or student finance. However, there are some organisations who may be able to help. Please see the information below about scholarships for asylum seekers.
If you have Humanitarian Protection
The Government’s regulations about who pays home fees and who pays overseas fees is different in England. Read more about this on the UKCISA website.
If you're aged 17 or under, or your status changes
When you turn 18, your status may change. If your status changes (for example, you're granted refugee status after you've applied to university), it's important that you let your course provider know as soon as possible. Admissions staff will be able to give you advice about your individual situation.
If you've been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain as a Bereaved Partner
If you've been UK resident since being awarded such status will qualify for student support without three years ordinary UK residency.
Your application
To help get the support you need you should share your refugee status in your university application, including your personal statement if you wish to. This information can help the university connect you to the right support for your needs quickly and easily.
In the ‘more about me’ section of the application on UCAS.com, you'll see a question that asks if you're a refugee, asylum seeker, or have limited leave to remain in the UK. Select the status that most closely represents your circumstances from the drop-down box.
This information is treated confidentially and only shared with those responsible for arranging support and helping you with your application (e.g. the student support team).
Knowing about your circumstances may also help admissions staff consider your achievements in context – it won’t reflect negatively on your application. This information won’t be used to set your fee status either – it's just there to make sure you get the right support. You can find out more about sharing your refugee status on your UCAS application in UCAS FAQs page.
If you're applying for a postgraduate course or applying directly to the university, contact the university or college before you apply to discuss your circumstances. They'll be able to provide you more information and advice about how they can support you, and where to include this information in their application form.
Remember – you're always in control. If you decide don’t want support you can choose not to accept it, but if you change your mind later on, or if your circumstances change, it’s ready for you.
Your personal statement
Although no one refugee experience is the same, as someone seeking refugee protection you’ll have gained many additional skills and strengths that are highly valued in higher education. Thinking about what these are will give you a great starting point for your personal statement.
UCAS have worked with Student Action for Refugees (STAR) and their group of Equal Access Activists to provide helpful personal statement guidance to identify your key strengths and transferable skills as you apply to university in the UK.
Need more support?
Student Action for Refugees (STAR) campaigns for equal access to higher education for refugees and people seeking asylum in the UK. You can find information about access to university on the STAR website, including a list of scholarships available in the UK, guidance for applying, and answers to frequently asked questions.
UKCISA can help you understand more about tuition fee status in different parts of the UK, as well as other issues related to immigration and education.
Coram Children’s Legal Centre provides free legal information, advice, and representation to children, and their families or carers. It can help if you are unclear about your immigration status or need legal advice.
We Belong works with young migrants to achieve better outcomes and remove barriers to success – including in education.