Bristol as a University of Sanctuary

Bristol is a City of Sanctuary – part of a charitable network that aims to build a culture of hospitality and inclusiveness for refugees and asylum seekers in cities across the UK. The University of Bristol is proud to have been a University of Sanctuary since 2016, a status which recognises the good practice of universities across the UK who welcome people seeking sanctuary into their communities.

As a University of Sanctuary, we are committed to learning about the experiences of people seeking sanctuary, and to embedding a culture of welcome and inclusion through our actions.

Supporting those seeking sanctuary

Our commitment to welcoming those seeking sanctuary includes a range of initiatives and activities:

• We have a dedicated Admissions Policy for Displaced Applicants to help make the application process to study with us more flexible and accessible.
• Sanctuary Scholarships provide funding to for students from asylum-seeking and refugee communities. Alumni play a key role in enabling these scholarships and supporting the Sanctuary programme.
• Students from refugee backgrounds are among the groups prioritised for participation on the Access to Bristol programme. Learners from this background are also welcome to participate in short courses designed to prepare for future study, such as Building up to Higher Education and CertHE Foundation Years.
• Our Widening Participation team runs various initiatives to support prospective students from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds, delivering targeted information and guidance at open events, local community learning spaces and colleges.
• Our Student Inclusion team has a dedicated member of staff to support students from forcibly displaced backgrounds.
• Our staff intranet (internal access only) has information about staff can support students from refugee, asylum seeker, or other forced migration backgrounds.
• The Open Learning Initiative (OLIve) supports people from refugee backgrounds who are interested in accessing Higher Education.
• Migration Mobilities Bristol is an interdisciplinary network of academics and others. It offers a creative space to develop research on migration and supports work that contributes to creating a more just world.
• Student Action for Refugees at Bristol is part of a national charity of thousands of students who are welcoming asylum seekers and refugees to the UK.
• The Global Lounge is a multicultural hub in the heart of campus, open to all students and staff, celebrating all cultures, building communities and inspiring social exchange.