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| Image Credit: Opportunity Forum |
Brunel
Sanctuary Scholarship, Brunel University London, UK
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 eligible students who have received an offer to study on a
full-time Undergraduate course starting in September 2023. Brunel pathway
College (BPC) applicants are eligible to apply for the Scholarship.
Deadline:
31 March 2023 at 12am
1.
Award details
The
Brunel Sanctuary Scholarship is a full fee waiver available to full-time
students 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 standard halls 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
payment will be made in the placement year of a sandwich course, or in the
integrated Master's 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 standard single accommodation in
the Integrated Masters year.
Value
of Scholarship
A
full tuition fee waiver per year of the chosen course.
Guaranteed
allocated and paid for on-campus standard room accommodation per year for a
maximum of 52 weeks, depending on the applicant’s circumstances (there is no
cash alternative for applicants living off-campus).
How
many: 5 scholarships in total.
Application
process
Applicants
should apply for the scholarship by completing the application
form by midnight on 31 March
2023. Applicants must submit evidence of immigration status with
the scholarship application. We will not be able to consider incomplete
applications.
Applicants
will need to make an application, provide evidence and meet the following
eligibility criteria to be considered for a Scholarship. The Scholarship
Allocation Panel will then shortlist applicants based on their 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 Widening Access Officer 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.
2.
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 2023/24 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 recognized asylum seeker
status may be granted Home fees 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
organization 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 are classed as Overseas or Channel Islands/Isle of Man for fee purposes based on
the UK government regulations, or
those with an unresolved fee status. For 2023/24 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.
c) Eligibility Definitions
|
Asylum Seeker |
A person who has left their home country as a
political refugee and is seeking asylum in another. An asylum seeker is
someone who has lodged an application for protection on the basis of the
Refugee Convention or Article 3 of the ECHR. The Refugee Council |
|
Refugee status |
Refugee status is awarded to someone the Home Office
recognises as a refugee as described in the Refugee Convention. A person
given refugee status is normally granted leave to remain in the UK for 5
years, and at the end of that period can apply for Indefinite Leave to
Remain. The Refugee Council |
|
Discretionary Leave to Remain as the result of an
asylum claim |
Discretionary leave is a form of immigration status
granted to a person…. This is determined by the Home Office. The Refugee Council |
|
Humanitarian protection (HP) |
Where an individual is found not to be a refugee
under the Refugee Convention but they are nevertheless at risk of serious
harm on return to their country of origin. HP can only be granted if the
individual does not fall to be recognised as a refugee but requires
protection nonetheless. Home Office Humanitarian Protection version 5.0
(dated 7 March 2017). or Humanitarian protection is a form of immigration
status. It is granted by the Home Office to a person who it decides has a
need for protection but who does not meet the criteria for refugee
status. The Refugee Council |
|
Limited leave to remain in the UK as a family member
(aged under 18) of a Refugee |
A person aged under 18 at the point of application
granted leave to remain in the UK with a limited time-frame, on the basis of
having a family member recognised as a Refugee or Beneficiary of Humanitarian
Protection (see definitions above). |
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
will be required to submit all evidence alongside their scholarship
application.
The
University may be required to verify an applicant’s immigration system 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 deadline. 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.
3.
Allocation
3.1
Eligibility criteria are reviewed annually.
3.2
The scholarship is assessed in 3 phases:
Phase
1: After the deadline of 31st March
2023, 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
2023.
Phase
3: Applicants who successfully
meet the eligibility criteria, have eligibility to study as a refugee or asylum
seeker, and are selected to proceed by the Scholarship Allocation Panel will be
invited to an informal interview, to be held within the month of June 2023.
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 accepts that offer by the 1st of September.
3.5
Scholarships will be formally confirmed in October 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, 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 the number of awards, priority will be given
to students within the Hillingdon
Virtual School.
4.
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 the foundation year (or for five years of a sandwich course). No payment will be
made in the placement year of a sandwich course or in the integrated Master's
year of an Integrated Master’s programme because the final year of an
Integrated Master 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 standard
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). Applicants requesting ensuite rooms or any room type other than
standard 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 the 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.
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.
Students
will be expected to comply with the usual rules and regulations specifically in
regard 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 June of the student’s final year of studies.
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 Accommodation Centre.
4.3
Application of fee waiver/Accommodation Payment Waiver
Fee
waivers/Accommodation payment waivers will only be applied to provide the student
is enrolled at the University on an undergraduate degree programme of study at
the time of the payment.
Fee
waivers/Accommodation payment waivers in subsequent years will only be applied to provide 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 an en-suite or studio flat would be required
to pay an additional top-up payment of rent from their own personal funds as
well as pay for any administration costs.
Students
who vacate their rooms early may not be eligible for accommodation for the
remainder of the year.
4.4
In the unlikely event that Brunel Accommodation Centre is 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.
5.
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 the 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 the 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 ceases 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 register/enroll 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 the 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: [email protected]