The Sanctuary Scholarship Scheme offers support towards the cost of full or part-time undergraduate and master's degrees, and PhDs.

The aim is to enhance opportunities for people from asylum seeking and refugee communities, and to aid integration, as well as breaking down the additional barriers that individuals from refugee backgrounds face in accessing higher education and employment.

Professor Hugh Brady, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol, said: "I'm delighted to see this scheme come to fruition. I am sure we will have applications from many excellent prospective students, and we look forward to welcoming them to study at our university.

"We know there are factors that make it difficult for people from refugee and asylum-seeking communities to apply to university. Their previous studies may have been interrupted, they might not have evidence of their previous qualifications or their qualifications are not transferable. Our scheme has been designed to accommodate these factors, so please don’t let them stop you from applying."

The scholarships comprise two schemes - a full scholarship for students with no access to financial support from the UK Government; and a partial scholarship for students who can access UK Government support.

Ben Hudson, a PhD researcher in the University's Law School, who was heavily involved in setting up the scheme, said: "Law lecturer Katie Bales and I have been actively involved in lobbying, drafting and finalising the full scheme with the University over the last year.

"It has been an intensive, collaborative effort between academics, students and professional services staff here at the University, driven by the Migration Research Group, and would not have been possible without the generous support that has been secured from university senior management."

Applications for Sanctuary Scholarships close on Thursday 30 June. Applications will be considered from students applying to the following courses:

• Full-time and part-time undergraduate degrees (3-year or 4-year degrees), including a foundation course where it is a requirement of the degree.
• Full-time and part-time postgraduate Master's programmes (MA, MSc or MRes).
• Full-time and part-time postgraduate research programmes (PhD).

Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science, and Engineering Design courses are not eligible for Sanctuary Scholarship funding.

Full information on the Sanctuary Scholarship Scheme, including eligibility and how to apply, can be found on the University of Bristol's website.