Who can access this support?
How can we support you?
English language requirements
How to apply
Useful links and resources
Contact us

We believe that everyone should have fair access to education, especially those whose lives have been disrupted by conflict, persecution, or forced migration.

If you've been displaced, whether from your home or your home country, we have a dedicated Admissions Policy for Displaced Applicants to help make the application process more flexible and accessible. Our team is here to offer guidance and explore options with you, based on your individual circumstances.

Who can access this support?

You may be eligible for support if your ability to meet the usual admissions requirements has been affected by:

• Seeking asylum or having refugee status
• Living under humanitarian protection or similar immigration status
• War, conflict, or persecution
• Natural disasters such as flooding or earthquakes that have forced you to leave your home
• Internal displacement within your home country.

If you're unsure whether your circumstances apply, please contact us. We'll be happy to help. See our contact details.

How can we support you?

We will consider each application on an individual basis and apply flexibility where possible, while upholding academic standards and adhering to UK Visa and Immigration regulations.

Support may include:

• Extended deadlines for submitting your application or required documents.
• Alternative forms of academic evidence, if you cannot provide full official documentation.
• A dedicated admissions contact to guide and support you throughout the process.
• Flexible communication options, including phone and post, where internet access is limited.
• Guidance on funding and visa requirements, including access to Sanctuary Scholarships.

Some elements may be fixed (such as visa rules, course start dates, or deadlines set by UCAS), but we'll always explain this clearly and support you wherever we can.

English language requirements

All applicants must demonstrate that they meet the English language requirements for their course. If it is difficult for you to provide evidence of your English language proficiency, we will work with you to consider what options are available. However, in most cases, we will ask applicants to obtain formal certification from a recognised English language test provider.

There are several online English language tests that are accepted within our English language profiles, including the TOEFL iBT Home Edition and IELTS Academic Online. These can be taken from wherever you are living and may be a good option if you are unable to access in-person test centres.

In some situations, we may be able to consider:

• Older certificates or results that fall slightly below our usual requirements.
• An internal assessment carried out by university staff.

We'll work with you to explore available options, but English language evidence, in some form, will always be required. This helps to ensure you are fully prepared for the demands of your course.

How to apply under this policy

1. 1. Apply to your chosen course as usual via UCAS or our Postgraduate Application Portal.
   2. Upload any supporting documents (for example, refugee status documents, passport copy, academic records) to your applicant dashboard or portal.
   3. Complete the Displaced Applicant Form below to tell us about your situation.
   4. A dedicated admissions contact will get in touch to guide you through the next steps.

Complete the Displaced Applicant Form

Useful links and resources

• Sanctuary Scholarship: funding support for students from forced migration backgrounds
• Support for students from forced migration backgrounds
• Visa and Immigration Advice
• Admissions Policy for Displaced Applicants (PDF, 282kB)

Contact us for further help and support

For general application support, contact our Enquiries team:

• Email: choose-bristol@bristol.ac.uk
• Tel: +44 (0)117 394 1649

For questions specific to displaced applicant support, email our Displaced Applicants Team:

• Email: displaced-applicants@bristol.ac.uk