The Michael Perham Sanctuary Scholarship 2025/26

Introduction

Named after the former Bishop of Gloucester and University Pro Chancellor, the late Rt. Revd Michael Perham, this scholarship has been established in recognition of the additional challenges and barriers in accessing higher education faced by students from forced migration backgrounds, including (but not limited to) refugees and asylum seekers. The scholarship scheme forms a key part of our commitment to creating a culture of welcome. 

Value of the scholarship

Up to two Sanctuary Scholarships will be awarded to commence in the 2025/26 academic year for students to undertake an undergraduate taught degree or a postgraduate taught degree.

Subject to fulfilling the conditions of the scholarship, each Sanctuary Scholar will receive a tuition-fee waiver and reasonable support with additional costs for the regular duration of their course. The level and mode of reasonable support will depend on whether award holders are eligible for a UK Student Finance Maintenance Loan and/or receive other funding or support. All award holders are expected to apply for and receive the full UK Student Finance Maintenance Loan available to them if they are eligible.

Please note, the scheme is not designed to cover accommodation or relocation costs for students who are eligible for a UK Student Finance Maintenance Loan or who live in Home Office provided accommodation. Applicants will be asked to explain how they will fund accommodation and relocation costs (where applicable) on the application form.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants for either an Undergraduate Taught or Postgraduate Taught Scholarship must meet all the following criteria:

• Have a forced migration status. This includes asylum seeker, refugee, humanitarian protection, temporary refugee permission, limited or discretionary leave to remain on the grounds of seeking protection, indefinite leave to remain on the grounds of seeking protection, Ukraine schemes, Calais Leave, Section 67 Leave, UASC leave, stateless leave and the dependents of any of the previously listed groups. If your forced migration status is not listed, please contact us with the details ([email protected]) to check whether you are eligible.

1. Be resident in the UK and either (i) currently living within Gloucestershire or within reasonable commuting distance, or (ii) be able to provide a clear rationale of how they will fund commuting or relocation costs if currently living further afield as part of the scholarship application.
2. Have received an offer of a place on an undergraduate taught or postgraduate taught degree course at the University of Gloucestershire. The course must involve studying at a University of Gloucestershire campus, not at a franchised college.
3. If seeking asylum, applicants must have submitted a request for asylum to the UK Home Office before applying to the Sanctuary Scholarship scheme.
4. Have submitted the Sanctuary Scholarship application in full by 15 March 2025. This must include evidence confirming immigration status (allowing us to confirm student finance eligibility) and contact details for a referee from a school, college, current/former employer or community/voluntary group. Referees will only be contacted for shortlisted candidates who did not provide a reference as part of their course application. If your circumstances mean you would find it difficult to provide a referee, please contact us ([email protected]) for advice.

Selection process

Eligible applications for the Sanctuary Scholarship will be shortlisted based on the information provided in their Scholarship application and course application.

Applications from candidates who have a forced migration status which means they are not eligible for UK Student Finance are particularly encouraged and will be given preferential consideration for shortlisting.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview (in person at one of our Cheltenham or Gloucester campuses, or via MS Teams) with members of the Sanctuary Scholarship Steering Group plus, in some circumstances, the Course Leader or a member of the lecturing team from their preferred degree programme.

The interviews are expected to take place on Friday 16 May 2025. All applicants will be notified of their outcome of their application by Friday 30 May 2025.

Conditions of Scholarship

Award holders are required to:

1. Meet the conditions of the University’s  Engagement and Attendance Policy
2. Attend at least one meeting a semester with their appointed named contact within the University’s Sanctuary Scholarship Steering Group
3. Inform the University immediately of any changes to their immigration status

Awards will be renewed each year for the full regular duration of the award holder’s course providing that:

1. The award holder continues to be eligible to be registered on their course at the time of each payment
2. The award holder continues to have the rights to reside and study in the UK

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.