University of Sanctuary: Welcoming sanctuary seekers within and beyond campus
The University of Leeds is proud to be an accredited University of Sanctuary, awarded by City of Sanctuary UK, a nationally coordinated network of organisations and services that welcome and support refugees and people seeking asylum.
We have supported asylum seekers and forced migrants in accessing education since 2018, with more than 30 students able to find sanctuary at Leeds through our Sanctuary Scholarships.
We are the first university in the Leeds City Region to be accredited with the award, a formal recognition of the impact of our initiatives that welcome sanctuary seekers, including sanctuary scholars and at-risk academics.
This recognition honours the compassion, commitment, and collaborative spirit of our entire community, whose tireless efforts have created a welcoming and supportive environment for sanctuary scholars and at-risk academics.
What is a University of Sanctuary?
University of Sanctuary accreditation celebrates the good practice of universities that promote a culture of welcome for sanctuary seekers within and beyond their campuses.
There are more than 40 Universities of Sanctuary across the UK, and we work with other higher education institutions as places of safety for those who’ve been forcibly displaced.
Our University of Sanctuary status aligns with the University of Leeds Strategy 2020-2030, highlighting our commitment to global equity and inclusion, and reflecting the University values of collaboration, compassion, inclusivity and integrity.
Our initiatives
We are a proud member of the Leeds City of Sanctuary Steering Group.
We work with our local community through our partnerships with Leeds City Council and third-sector organisations, our cultural resources, and outreach and support for local refugees and asylum seekers pursuing higher education.
Sanctuary Scholarships
The University provides up to five scholarships a year to forcibly displaced students already in the UK. We’re proud to have awarded 31 Sanctuary Scholarships to date.
"My experience at the University of Leeds has shown me the true value of a supportive and inclusive community.
Being part of the University has provided me with not only the resources to pursue my academic goals but also a sense of belonging and encouragement at every step. It’s a place where everyone is empowered to succeed and feel genuinely valued.
We have expanded our Sanctuary Scholarships policies and practicies, and have also introduced a route specifically available for Gazan students who aren’t refugees or asylum seekers in the UK. These two additional sanctuary scholarships for the 2024/25 academic year include funding for tuition fees and living costs, as well as visa and travel costs and the NHS surcharge.
Learn more about the scholarships available for Gazan students.
Teaching about refugee and asylum seeker experience
The University of Leeds teaches various modules about refugee and asylum seeker experience.
Subject areas include:
- young people of migrant descent
- migrant workers and labour markets
- forced labour and exploitation
- migrants rights.
Watch: Extracts from a Global Perspectives seminar on Vimeo.
English courses
We are part of the RefugEAP scheme, providing online English for Academic Purposes training for refugees and asylum seekers. We deliver this scheme for sanctuary seekers in partnership with the University of Leicester.
Inclusive teaching and learning opportunities
Our Lifelong Learning Centre collaborates with organisations in Leeds and surrounding areas, including the Refugee Education Training Advice Service (RETAS), Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (PAFRAS), Leeds Asylum Seekers Support Network (LASSN) and a range of refugee-led community organisations to deliver equitable and inclusive teaching and learning opportunities.
Free access to libraries
The Academic Asylum Seekers and Refugee Access Membership grants free year-long reference access to our libraries for refugees and asylum seekers.
Welcoming Migrants programme
The Welcoming Migrants programme brings sanctuary seekers from diverse backgrounds together to nurture a sense of belonging and enrich health and wellbeing. Created in consultation with community organisations, the programme uses our collections at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery and Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery to forge meaningful relationships within campus and the wider community.
Research
Leeds Migration Research Network is an interdisciplinary research network of academics and practitioners in the area of migration research.
Support for at-risk academics
Our work with the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA) improves our support for academics at risk of being forcibly displaced and their families. Increased funding has secured two additional placements for visiting research fellows from Gaza.
“Access to education is still systematically being denied across the world. The support that was offered to us from the University of Leeds and Cara is huge.”
Student Action for Refugees (STAR)
Leeds STAR provides volunteering, campaigning and fundraising opportunities to support refugees and raise awareness of the barriers they face. We have a STAR representative member in our University of Sanctuary Working Group.
Students into Schools (SIS)
Our Students into Schools scheme works with primary and secondary schools across West Yorkshire, which comprise of growing diverse student populations, including those who speak English as an additional language (EAL).
Volunteers for the scheme receive language training on Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), through our Language Centre and Leeds Migration training, in order to provide literacy, numeracy and other subject-specific support to local students.
Refugee Week Inclusion and Celebration
Our Refugee Week celebration brings together our teaching and research with the lived experiences of those seeking sanctuary. We have a special refugee book collection and a dedicated Refugee Week Reading List. This includes archives on cultural collections specific to migration, film and television shows and resources and local organisations supporting refugees and asylum seekers.
Open to all, our events and activities explore challenges to inequalities, and foster mattering, belonging and inclusivity.
We have a building named after our alumnus, Esther Simpson, who supported academics seeking refuge before and after WWII. As part of the University's Special Collections, Esther Simpson’s correspondence and papers, were donated to the University. They include includes personal papers, photographs and press-cuttings – including notes and drafts regarding Esther Simpson's 'Refugee Scholars' book – and can be viewed by the public.
Our University of Sanctuary award acknowledges the extensive efforts made by our University of Sanctuary Steering Group. It aims to further raise awareness, foster broader engagement, and establish a sustainable framework that reinforces the University's dedication to being a safe and welcoming environment.
Pro-Vice Chancellor for Student Education and Experience, Professor Jeff Grabill, said: “I’m honoured to be part of a community that’s dedicated to supporting vulnerable people from around the world, especially those displaced by conflict or by persecution.”
Leeds City of Sanctuary panel member Ian Kemp said the University’s Sanctuary Status was ‘an amazing achievement’.
He said: “A significant amount of work has been undertaken by the University. It’s got an excellent Sanctuary Scholars programme, and it’s great to see such a dynamic effort involving lots of people, with staff and students becoming more and more engaged.”
The University of Sanctuary Steering Group’s importance extends well beyond the campus and ensures that we listen to the voices of our wider community. For more information, or if you’d like to get involved, email the Sanctuary Steering Group: sanctuary@leeds.ac.uk.