King’s College London, one of the UK’s most prestigious universities, has officially opened applications for its 2025 Sanctuary Scholarship program.
The announcement comes at a critical time when global displacement figures have reached unprecedented levels, with over 100 million people forcibly displaced worldwide according to recent UNHCR data.
These scholarships represent far more than financial assistance—they offer a lifeline to students whose educational journeys have been disrupted by conflict, persecution, and forced migration.
For many recipients, these opportunities mark the difference between abandoned dreams and the chance to rebuild lives through educational achievement at one of the world’s leading academic institutions.
What the Sanctuary Scholarship Program Offers
The King’s College London Sanctuary Scholarship program for 2025 provides comprehensive support to refugee and asylum-seeking students.
Unlike many other scholarship schemes that cover only partial costs, these awards are designed to address the unique financial and practical challenges faced by displaced students.
The scholarship package includes full tuition fee waivers for undergraduate and postgraduate courses, which alone can represent a value of £9,250 annually for UK students and between £23,000 and £35,000 for international students, depending on the chosen program of study.
Additionally, recipients receive a living stipend of £12,000 per academic year, distributed in monthly installments to help cover accommodation, food, transportation, and other essential living expenses in London—one of the world’s most expensive cities.
“When I first received the email confirming my scholarship, I read it five times in disbelief,” shared Mariam, a current Sanctuary Scholar from Syria studying Biomedical Science.
“Coming from a background where I had to pause my education for three years while living in a refugee camp, this opportunity literally changed everything. The monthly stipend meant I didn’t have to choose between buying textbooks and having enough to eat.”
Beyond the financial aspects, scholars receive specialized pastoral support through a dedicated team that understands the unique challenges faced by students from refugee backgrounds.
This includes assistance with navigating UK systems, accessing mental health services, and connecting with relevant university and external support networks.
The program also offers pre-sessional English language courses for those who need additional language support before beginning their degree programs, addressing a common barrier for many displaced students.
Eligibility Requirements for the 2025 Applications
For the 2025 intake, King’s College London has established clear eligibility criteria while recognizing the diverse circumstances of potential applicants.
Applicants must have been offered a place on any undergraduate or postgraduate taught program at King’s for the 2025-26 academic year before they can be considered for the scholarship.
This means prospective students need to complete two separate application processes: first applying to their chosen academic program through standard university admissions procedures, and then subsequently applying for the Sanctuary Scholarship.
Regarding immigration status, eligible applicants must be asylum seekers awaiting a decision, individuals who have been granted Discretionary Leave to Remain or some form of temporary status, those with refugee status, or those with Humanitarian Protection in the UK.
Crucially, applicants must be unable to access mainstream UK student financial support due to their immigration status—addressing a significant gap in the educational system that often leaves talented students from refugee backgrounds unable to pursue higher education.
“We deliberately kept the eligibility criteria as inclusive as possible within the parameters of what we can legally offer,” explained Dr. Victoria Jensen, Director of Widening Participation at King’s College London.
“Our experience has shown that refugee students often have complex immigration histories and may fall between the cracks of conventional funding systems. The Sanctuary Scholarship aims to catch those who would otherwise be left without options.”
Applicants are also required to demonstrate their academic potential and commitment to studies, though the university emphasizes that its assessment takes into account the often-disrupted educational backgrounds of refugee students.
This may include consideration of alternative qualifications or relevant work experience for those unable to provide conventional academic transcripts due to displacement.
The Application Process and Key Deadlines
The application process for the 2025 Sanctuary Scholarships has been streamlined based on feedback from previous applicants, many of whom noted the challenges of completing complex paperwork while dealing with unstable living situations or limited access to documents.
Applications opened on February 15, 2025, and will close on April 30, 2025—a deliberately extended window designed to give potential applicants adequate time to prepare their materials.
The online application form requires personal details, information about immigration status, academic qualifications, and a personal statement explaining how the applicant’s education has been impacted by their forced migration experience.
Applicants are also asked to articulate how their chosen program of study connects to their future aspirations and potential contributions to society.
“We’re not looking for the most heart-wrenching stories or trying to make applicants relive trauma,” clarified Ming Zhao, who serves on the scholarship selection committee.
“Rather, we want to understand the barriers they’ve faced in accessing education and how committed they are to their chosen field. The personal statement helps us see the person behind the application—their resilience, motivation, and potential.”
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to online interviews in May 2025, with final decisions communicated by mid-June to allow successful applicants sufficient time to make arrangements for the September 2025 start date.
The university offers application support workshops during the application period, both virtual and in-person, to help potential applicants navigate the process—a particularly valuable resource for those unfamiliar with UK higher education application procedures.
Impact Stories: Beyond the Statistics
While statistics about scholarship funding and recipient numbers provide important context, the true impact of King’s Sanctuary Scholarships becomes evident through the experiences of those who have benefited from the program.
Ahmad Rashid, who fled Afghanistan in 2019 and spent two years in limbo within the UK asylum system, is now in his final year of a Politics, Philosophy and Economics degree at King’s.
“Before receiving the scholarship, I was living in shared accommodation with five other asylum seekers, working cash-in-hand jobs when I could find them, and trying to improve my English by watching YouTube videos,” Ahmad recalled.
“Now I’m about to graduate from one of the world’s top universities and have already secured a graduate position with an international development organization. The transformation in my circumstances still feels surreal some days.”
For Fatima Hussain, who arrived in the UK from Sudan as an unaccompanied minor at age 16, the scholarship provided not just education but a sense of belonging after years of isolation.
“Being a Sanctuary Scholar connected me with others who understood my journey without me having to explain it,” she explained.
“The peer network among scholarship recipients became like a family for me, especially during holidays when others went home to their families and I remained in London. We supported each other through academic challenges but also celebrated each other’s achievements—something I hadn’t experienced since leaving my home.”
Grace Mwangi, who completed an MSc in Global Health through the program in 2023, has now established a community health initiative in South London focusing on healthcare access for migrant communities.
Her story exemplifies how the scholarships create ripple effects that extend far beyond individual recipients.
“What I learned at King’s, I’m now applying directly to help others who face the same barriers I once did,” Grace said.
“My dissertation research on healthcare access for undocumented migrants has informed every aspect of our project design. This isn’t just about what the scholarship did for me—it’s about what it’s enabled me to do for hundreds of others.”
How King’s Program Compares to Other UK Universities
The King’s College London Sanctuary Scholarship program stands out within the UK higher education landscape in several significant ways.
While approximately 70 UK universities now offer some form of refugee scholarship, the comprehensiveness of support offered by King’s places it among the most generous and holistic programs.
Most university scholarships for refugees cover tuition fees but provide limited or no maintenance support, leaving students vulnerable to financial hardship that can undermine their academic success.
The £12,000 annual stipend offered by King’s acknowledges London’s high cost of living and seeks to ensure recipients can focus on their studies rather than survival.
King’s also distinguishes itself through the number of scholarships available—offering 15 new Sanctuary Scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year, compared to the sector average of three to five such scholarships per institution.
This represents a nearly £2 million annual investment in the program when accounting for both fee waivers and stipends.
“We’ve made a strategic decision to prioritize depth of support rather than just breadth,” explained Professor James Richardson, King’s Vice Principal for Social Responsibility.
“Our research and experience show that refugee students often require more comprehensive support to succeed, given the complex challenges they’ve faced. We believe it’s better to support fewer students properly than to offer token assistance to many.”
Unlike some universities that restrict refugee scholarships to specific departments or faculties, King’s makes the opportunity available across all disciplines and at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
This reflects an understanding that talent and potential among refugee students spans all academic fields, from STEM subjects to humanities and creative disciplines.
Challenges and Criticisms
Despite its strengths, the Sanctuary Scholarship program at King’s College London faces challenges and has attracted some criticism that the university continues to address.
Immigration policy constraints remain a significant hurdle, as students with certain immigration statuses face restrictions on their ability to work during or after their studies.
This can limit the long-term impact of the educational opportunity, particularly for those hoping to build careers in the UK after graduation.
Some advocates have also called for the program to expand beyond its current capacity, arguing that 15 scholarships barely scratches the surface given the scale of global displacement and the number of potential applicants.
“We receive over 200 applications each year for these scholarships, many from exceptionally qualified candidates,” acknowledged Dr. Jensen.
“The hardest part of my job is knowing we have to turn away so many deserving applicants simply due to capacity constraints. We’re actively fundraising to expand the program, but there’s always more need than we can meet.”
Criticism has also emerged regarding the emphasis on academic achievement in the selection process, with some arguing this disadvantages refugees with the most disrupted educational backgrounds who may have had limited opportunities to demonstrate academic excellence through conventional metrics.
In response, King’s has revised its selection criteria to place greater emphasis on potential and motivation rather than past academic achievements alone, and introduced more flexible assessment methods.
The Broader Context: Education in Crisis Settings
The King’s College London Sanctuary Scholarship program operates against a backdrop of global education crisis for displaced populations.
UNHCR statistics indicate that only 5% of refugees globally have access to higher education, compared to 38% of the general population—a gap that has widened despite international commitments to improve educational access for refugees.
In this context, initiatives like the King’s Sanctuary Scholarships represent both valuable direct intervention for individual students and important symbolic leadership within the higher education sector.
“Universities have a moral responsibility to use their resources and expertise to address global challenges, and forced displacement is one of the defining challenges of our time,” stated Professor Anna Williams, King’s Principal.
“These scholarships align with our institutional mission to serve society and our strategic commitment to internationalization that goes beyond traditional approaches to global engagement.”
The program also connects to broader advocacy efforts, with King’s playing an active role in the Universities of Sanctuary network and contributing to policy discussions on improving educational pathways for refugees at both national and international levels.
How to Support the Scholarship Program
For those inspired by the impact of the King’s College London Sanctuary Scholarships, there are multiple ways to support the program’s continuation and expansion.
The university welcomes donations specifically earmarked for the Sanctuary Scholarship fund, with options for supporting a partial scholarship, a full scholarship, or contributing to the program’s emergency hardship fund for recipients facing unexpected financial difficulties.
Alumni and corporate partners can engage through mentorship programs designed to connect scholarship recipients with professional networks and career development opportunities.
Organizations working with refugee communities can collaborate with King’s on outreach initiatives to ensure information about the scholarships reaches potential applicants, particularly those who may be disconnected from conventional information channels about higher education opportunities.
“One of our biggest challenges is ensuring that those who would benefit most from these scholarships actually know they exist and believe they could be eligible,” explained Refugee Support Coordinator Amina Farah.
“We rely heavily on partnerships with community organizations and refugee support agencies to spread the word. Someone who’s currently living in temporary accommodation and focused on day-to-day survival might not be checking university websites for scholarship opportunities.”
Looking to the Future
As King’s College London looks toward the future of its Sanctuary Scholarship program, several developments are on the horizon.
The university has announced plans to establish a dedicated Sanctuary Scholars Network that will connect current and former recipients, creating opportunities for mentorship, professional development, and community building.
Discussions are underway about expanding the program to include specific pathways for refugee scholars—academics and researchers whose careers have been disrupted by conflict or persecution—building on successful models developed at other institutions.
There are also plans to more formally integrate scholarship recipients’ perspectives into the program’s governance, with alumni representatives joining the scholarship committee to ensure decisions remain grounded in the lived experience of those the program aims to serve.
“What began as a relatively small initiative has grown into something that’s changing the culture of our institution,” reflected Professor Williams.
“The presence of Sanctuary Scholars on our campuses has enriched our community immeasurably, challenged assumptions, and reminded us all of both the fragility and resilience of educational opportunity in a troubled world.”
For prospective applicants considering the 2025 scholarship round, the message from current scholars is overwhelmingly encouraging despite the competitive nature of the process.
“Apply, even if you’re doubtful about your chances,” urged Ahmad.
“Before I submitted my application, I nearly convinced myself it wasn’t worth trying because surely others would be more deserving or better qualified. Had I listened to that voice of doubt, my life would be completely different today. This scholarship isn’t just about what you’ve already achieved—it’s about what you could achieve if given the chance.”
As applications continue to arrive from around the world—from temporary accommodations in London boroughs to refugee camps in Kenya, Jordan, and Bangladesh—each represents not just a request for financial support but a determination to reclaim educational aspirations disrupted by forces beyond individual control.
The 2025 King’s College London Sanctuary Scholarships stand as recognition that in a world where displacement has become increasingly common, access to education remains both a fundamental right and a powerful tool for rebuilding lives and communities.
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