The University offers students support
Providing a new home and future
In 2019 the University of Exeter became part of the University of Sanctuary network, a UK-wide initiative aiming to ensure that universities foster a culture of welcome and inclusion for asylum seekers and refugees.
In 2020 this magazine shone a spotlight on some of the first students to begin their studies thanks to our Sanctuary Scholarship scheme, a programme which enables individuals seeking asylum and refugees who are not able access student finance to study at the University of Exeter.
Since that point a total of 24 students from 12 different countries have received the scholarship so far, and five have now successfully graduated and joined our alumni community.
Many alumni have donated to the scheme since its launch, helping to support these students to achieve their dreams. The University waives the tuition fees for successful applicants, but funds are also needed to cover living costs while the students cannot access employment or student finance. The impact of these donations has been significant as you can read about in anonymous feedback from Sanctuary Scholars on the previous page.
Just this year, the war in Ukraine has displaced millions of people, including tens of thousands of university students across the country.
“The Sanctuary Scholarship helped me live a normal life again where I can focus on being the best version of myself. As an asylum seeker, the process is daunting and as a result I suffered with my mental health. The Scholarship offered me a life changing opportunity to attend university and have hope for the future, whereby I can have meaningful and positive contribution to this nation. This wouldn’t have been possible without your generous and continuous support, and I am forever grateful.”
“The war in my country broke my career and spirit. The Sanctuary Scholarship helped me rebuild my career and gave me hope for future by enabling me to pursue a PhD degree. The Scholarship improved my circumstances and diverted me from the trauma I experienced during the war. The scholarship provided me with a unique and unprecedented opportunity which is preparing me for a career in the increasingly important and rapidly expanding field. Having completed a Masters in Genomic Medicine, I was supported and recommended by the programme lead and therefore the process of applying for this scholarship was straightforward.”
“The war in my country broke my career and spirit. The Sanctuary Scholarship helped me rebuild my career and gave me hope for future by enabling me to pursue a PhD degree. The Scholarship improved my circumstances and diverted me from the trauma I experienced during the war. The scholarship provided me with a unique and unprecedented opportunity which is preparing me for a career in the increasingly important and rapidly expanding field. Having completed a Masters in Genomic Medicine, I was supported and recommended by the programme lead and therefore the process of applying for this scholarship was straightforward.”
Watching the news unfold, alumnus Danny Masters (Physics, 1984) wanted to make a difference and committed to fund an individual impacted by the war in Ukraine, through the Sanctuary Scholarship scheme.
Danny says: “Both my company, Coinshares International, and myself were moved by the plight of the Ukrainian people. As an alum of the University of Exeter I had supported students in the past via the Widening Participation programme. While some possible channels of support for Ukraine where stalled by bureaucracy, Exeter moved swiftly to enable direct support to Ukrainian refugees looking for educational opportunities abroad. I was delighted to find that the university was able to swiftly locate a worthy candidate who has now been afforded a new opportunity set thanks to our joint efforts.”
Danny’s donation provided a scholarship for Mykyta Isagulov, who was forced to flee his home and university last summer. He says: “As I come from Ukraine and fled my home in June 2022, this scholarship has allowed me to find a new home in Exeter, leave all the stress behind, and fulfil a long and ambitious dream of doing a PhD research degree in English, researching an interdisciplinary matter that is at the border of literature, arts, media and cultures.
“The Sanctuary Scholarship provides me with a unique opportunity to dedicate all of my time to the research in question, integrate closely into the University community and become an active part of its social life, without the need to worry about part-time jobs and securing other sources of income. This financial support also stimulates me to develop as a researcher and participate actively in international conferences and seek publications in respected academic journals.”
“As a recipient of the Sanctuary Scholarship, it has been a lifeline for me to access higher education, a triumph in the face of adversity, and the opportunity that means I can achieve my dreams and fulfil my potential. This scholarship is of great importance to me, and I’ll be forever grateful to the University of Exeter and all the sponsors, as it is because of their generosity, that I can undertake my undergraduate law degree, which will open great doors and mean that I have access to a brighter future, and I am one step closer to being a solicitor.”
“The sanctuary scholarship changed my life in a way I could never imagine. It gave me a sense of purpose, safety, and financial independence. Now, I can rebuild my life in a safe environment provided for the University of Exeter and with my hard work and research contribute to society. Again, thank you very much for believing in us, because without you, transforming lives couldn’t be possible.”
“As a recipient of the Sanctuary Scholarship, it has been a lifeline for me to access higher education, a triumph in the face of adversity, and the opportunity that means I can achieve my dreams and fulfil my potential. This scholarship is of great importance to me, and I’ll be forever grateful to the University of Exeter and all the sponsors, as it is because of their generosity, that I can undertake my undergraduate law degree, which will open great doors and mean that I have access to a brighter future, and I am one step closer to being a solicitor.”
“The sanctuary scholarship changed my life in a way I could never imagine. It gave me a sense of purpose, safety, and financial independence. Now, I can rebuild my life in a safe environment provided for the University of Exeter and with my hard work and research contribute to society. Again, thank you very much for believing in us, because without you, transforming lives couldn’t be possible.”
In 2020 alumnus Paul (Languages, 1984) was one of the first alumni to fund a Sanctuary Scholarship for an MSci Nursing student, who had to leave their homeland.
He says: “It has been so rewarding, supporting the scheme. My wife and I feel very much invested in our scholar’s success and love to receive the updates each year. We feel incredibly proud of everything they are achieving and look forward to watching them graduate and build a successful nursing career.”
The recipient of Paul’s scholarship is now in their third year of study and has started volunteering as a peer mentor for other Sanctuary Scholarship recipients. They wish to remain anonymous but say that the scholarship has been life-changing for them:
“Being a Sanctuary Scholar means a lot to me as it has given me hope and a chance at a brighter future. It has given me the opportunity to acquire the qualification I need to pursue my future career in nursing. Getting this scholarship just goes to show that you shouldn’t let your situation define you. I am happy that I found this opportunity and I am more than ready to show that I deserve to be here.
“For my first placement, I worked at the Nightingale Hospital in Exeter which was mainly for Covid patients at the time. Initially, I felt terrified for my first placement and care experience to be with Covid patients, however, it was an experience that brought out my humanity, challenged certain skills such as communication and observation skills and it also enlightened me more on the role of nurses in patient’s care. I also worked at the vaccination centre where I was able to vaccinate people after taking online courses and working hand in hand with the nurses and vaccinators.
“The Sanctuary Scholarship continues to give me the motivation I need to excel, getting this support greatly eases my financial burden and enables me to focus fully on my degree and getting the most from this opportunity. I do appreciate this kind gesture toward my education, as without the support I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to apply to university and achieve my ambition of becoming a nurse.”
To learn more about the Sanctuary Scholarship scheme or to make a donation visit our website:
Supporting students through the cost-of-living crisis
The cost-of-living crisis continues to have a significant impact on households around the UK, and students are feeling the pinch.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates that household income for the poorest home undergraduate students has reduced in real terms by £1,200 this academic year due to increases in the maintenance loan of just 2.3% falling short of inflation.
In a survey conducted by the NUS of 3,500 students and apprentices, nearly a third of respondents reported being left with just £50 per month after paying rent and bills. Save the Student’s latest money survey reported high levels of financial difficulty with 82% worrying about making ends meet; 59% reporting related mental health concerns and 31% saying their grades had suffered as a result. Average spending for students was £924 a month (up by 14% on the previous year and considerably higher than the average maintenance loan of £485 per month) with the South West the most expensive region outside London.
In response the University has invested around £3.1 million in an emergency support package to help reduce the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on students.
A cross-university working group involving the Student Unions was set up in September to identify a package of potential measures to mitigate the crisis. Mitigation is based on the following principles: a) targeting funding support for those most in need and vulnerable to the cost-of-living crisis; b) minimising living and academic costs through the provision of low-cost alternatives wherever possible; c) building resilience and helping students cope.
In November 2022 all under-graduate home students with a family household income of less than £30,000 were automatically granted a £150 Winter Support Bursary to help with escalating costs. By providing our lowest income students with more money upfront to support them over the costly winter period, we may be able to alleviate some of the stress of falling into debt; reduce the need for hardship funds; and provide early meaningful interventions to those most vulnerable to the impact of inflation.
The University’s Success for All Fund continues to be the main source of financial help for students in crisis.
The University has also matched the 10% increase by UKRI to it is minimum postgraduate research stipends to offset the cost-of-living impact for our 1,100 UKRI or Exeter funded students. A further £250,000 has been set aside on top of the extra £1 million in hardship funds allocated for this year to support self-funded PhD students finding themselves in financial crisis.
In addition to providing extra funding for students, providing access to free or low-cost alternatives to food, groceries and other products has been identified as an important contribution to alleviating the impacts of the crisis. The University has invested in a range of initiatives including providing daily nutritious hot food options, cheap grocery products, and providing warm places to study and socialise on campus 24/7.
We have also partnered with national debt charity Step Change to provide help and advice for students and staff worried about debt. The charity provides a range of online support and tools for people in debt and runs a helpline. Staff training and a referral system for colleagues to signpost students in debt have also been put into place.
The University’s Success for All Fund set up during the Covid pandemic continues to be the main source of financial help for students in crisis. More than 900 applications for support have been received so far this term, with annual applications now estimated at around 3,000. Financial assistance is being provided to support with accommodation, household bills, fuel bills and IT.
The Success for All Fund has been widely supported by alumni over the past few years and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who has donated to help students during this time. All donations, regardless of size, have been greatly appreciated. It has made a huge difference to students who are struggling – decreasing anxiety and reducing serious financial hardship.
