Academic scholarships and home fees
The University of Leicester is proud to have obtained the University of Sanctuary award. We believe that higher education should be accessible to all based on merit alone, and are pleased to offer a range of different fee concessions and Sanctuary Scholarships to help reduce barriers to participation in higher education faced by those with refugee backgrounds.
Home tuition fee rates
Refugee and Humanitarian Protection
Students with Refugee or Humanitarian Protection status qualify for Home tuition fee rates.
Asylum seeker, DLR and LLR
The University of Leicester charges Home tuition fee rates for students with Asylum Seeker status, and for students who got Discretionary Leave to Remain (DLR) or Limited Leave to Remain (LLR) as a result of an asylum application.
Please email Admissions (admissions@le.ac.uk for undergraduate, pgadmissions@le.ac.uk for postgraduate) including your name, student number and proof of status to make sure you are charged the correct fee amount.
Ukraine schemes
From 1 August 2022, if you have been granted leave under the Homes for Ukraine or Ukraine Family schemes, or under the Ukraine Extension scheme, and have been a resident in the UK, you will be treated the same as a UK resident for higher education fees and funding. You will also qualify for advanced learner loans for further education courses. You do not need to demonstrate three years ordinary residence in the UK before the start of your course, but you will need to show that you have been resident in the UK since your leave was granted.
Sanctuary scholarships for campus-based academic programmes
Sanctuary Scholarships (general)
Each Sanctuary Scholarship consists of a tuition fee waiver for a campus-based academic programme, and a support package to be confirmed following assessment with our Welfare Service. The number of awards available are:
- 2 x Undergraduate awards
- 1 x Taught Masters award
- 1 x PhD award.
Application deadline for 2024-25 scholarships: 23:59 on 12 May 2024.
You can find more information about these Sanctuary scholarships (and other scholarships) in the scholarships and discounts section of our website.
Ukraine Conflict Sanctuary Scholarship
This Sanctuary Scholarship offers an opportunity to study at the University of Leicester in the academic year 2024-25 for a student from Ukraine, Russia or Belarus whose access to higher education has been significantly restricted due to displacement and/or at risk of persecution, violence or conflict.
This scholarship consists of a tuition fee waiver for a campus-based taught Master's programme, and an annual stipend.
Priority will be given to STEM subjects, in particular Mathematics and Physics.
Application deadline for 2024-25: 23:59 on 1 April 2024.
You can find more information about the Ukraine Conflict Sanctuary Scholarships (and other scholarships) in the scholarships and discounts section of our website.
Sanctuary scholarships for distance learning programmes
Our Distance Learning Sanctuary Awards offer opportunities for those who have been forcibly displaced from their homes and/or who are at risk of political persecution, violence or conflict anywhere in the world to study with the University of Leicester via distance learning.
We are offering 100 full fee waivers over the academic years 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 on a range of distance learning Master’s degree programmes in the College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities.
The deadline for applying is 4 weeks before the start date for your chosen Master’s programme.
Sanctuary scholarships for English Language courses
We offer a wide range of opportunities and scholarships for students from refugee backgrounds to improve their general and academic English. You can find out more about these on our English language classes and support web pages.
Sanctuary scholarships for teacher training courses
CELTA Sanctuary Scholarship
1 full fee waiver per face-to-face CELTA course, including the 5-week intensive, the 10-week semi-intensive and the 20-week extensive course.
CELTA is an initial teacher training qualification for people who wish to enter the field of teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Learn more about CELTA.
Other University of Leicester scholarships and discounts
We offer a range of other scholarships which are not specifically for refugee-background students, but which some refugee-background students may be eligible to apply for. You can read about these on our scholarships and discounts page.
Sanctuary scholarships across the UK
There are many other university scholarships and discounts available to refugee-background students across the UK. You can find many of these on the Student Action for Refugees and the Displaced Student Opportunities UK websites.