Increase in grants for refugee students

STUDENTS SEEKING sanctuary have been offered more financial help for their courses by a university in Yorkshire.

Four years ago, the University of Bradford set up the sanctuary bursary to offer the chance of higher education to people fleeing conflict and persecution.

The university will award 10 sanctuary scholarships this year and has raised the support grant from £500 to £4,000 to help asylum seekers and refugees.

Many recipients are continuing their asylum claims while studying in the UK.

Gladys Lum, 28, who left Cameroon eight years ago, remembered her joy on receiving the scholarship, which has enabled her to study social work, on a twoyear MA course at the University of Bradford.

Previously in 2013 she moved to the UK to study at the London School of Economics, after which she started a family – her daughter is now three – but her residency status was later refused.

Although she was granted discretionary leave to remain because of her family, she could not access funding to pursue her dreams of becoming a social worker.

She said: “This scholarship has helped me a lot and am now looking forward to the future and to being able to provide for my daughter.

“Furthering my education was something I was passionate about. As a victim of abuse, my course relates directly to my own life experiences but although I was granted leave to remain in the UK, I could not access funding.”

Describing the situation faced by asylum seekers, Emma Young, head of student success services, from the University of Bradford, said: “We know that financial means are a significant barrier for individuals from these communities.”

The University of Bradford became one of the UK’s first Universities of Sanctuary in 2017.