The University of Glasgow is proud to be a University of Sanctuary, an accreditation that we achieved in November 2022. Universities of Sanctuary are recognised for promoting fairness and equity of opportunity for all, including those displaced by conflict around the world. We are committed to embedding a culture of welcome into our university policies and processes and to actioning the UNHCR pledge to achieve 15% enrolments of refugees into higher education by 2030. 

Over the coming years, the University of Glasgow will be expanding the support available to refugees and asylum seekers by increasing the number of study opportunities for applicants seeking sanctuary in the UK for humanitarian reasons. 

From the beginning of the 2025/26 academic year, we have a commitment to increase the number of Sanctuary Scholarships from 20 to 30 places. Alongside the Sanctuary Scholarships, from the beginning of this academic year, the University of Glasgow will launch a new scholarship in memory of a former Erasmus student, Dima Alhaj, who was tragically killed in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, while working for the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

The Dima Alhaj Scholarship will be offered annually to a Palestinian national applying to study for an Undergraduate or Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Glasgow. 

Alongside increased financial support, the University has committed to providing greater English language support to improve access to higher education and enhance attainment rates. New Sanctuary hub web pages have also been launched, which will be a critical resource for applicants, students, colleagues, alumni, partners and members of our local community and will provide a platform for sharing stories, experiences, insights and actions. A new Sanctuary Manager role has been created to act as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders.  

The University continues to support three Ukrainian partners through the UUK #TwinForHope project and has been working in partnership with the Scottish Government and Linda Norgrove Foundation to support six female Afghani medical students. In addition, the University has pledged support to the Technical Education Support Initiative (TESI) led by An-Najah National University and the Mediterranean Universities Union to provide essential educational support to students in Gaza.  

The University is also liaising with colleagues in the UK and the Middle East to take forward a discussion about how the sector can best support the reconstruction of the higher education sector in Gaza once the conflict has ended, and we hope to host an event on this theme in December.  

Rachel Sandison, Deputy Vice Chancellor, External Engagement and the University of Glasgow’s Sanctuary Champion, said: “As a University of Sanctuary, it is our responsibility to ensure that anyone with the drive, determination and desire to pursue a university degree is empowered to do so. By expanding our commitments and enhancing our scholarship portfolio, we can better enable those who have been affected by humanitarian crises to achieve their University of Glasgow dream. 

We will continue to work alongside other institutions, cross-sector organisations and NGOs, such as the Council for at Risk Academic (CARA), to ensure that as a University we offer effective and meaningful support to those impacted by the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine and elsewhere around the world, whilst developing sustainable, long-term pathways to a Glasgow degree .” 

On Monday 19 August, the University was honoured to host the launch of The New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy: Delivery Plan 2024-2026 - developed by the Scottish Government, Scottish Refugee Council and COSLA.  

The plan - which is the most comprehensive of its kind worldwide - seeks to ensure people understand their rights, responsibilities and entitlements, and to help New Scots and communities to integrate. This directly aligns to the University’s own ambitions of ensuring that we are an inclusive and welcoming campus where every member of our community feels safe, respected, and supported to fulfil their potential. 

  • More information about the University of Glasgow as a University of Sanctuary, and the support we offer can be found on our Sanctuary Hub. 

First published: 22 August 2024

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