Over 3.5 million refugees have fled Ukraine since the war began in February. Most of them have sheltered in neighbouring countries, but some are willing to travel further to nations like the UK, which has already issued over 6,000 visas for Ukrainians.
Last year alone, over 600,000 internationals studied at higher education institutions in the UK, with around 75% coming from non-EU countries. This shows the island nation remains a popular study destination despite the increase in tuition fees following Brexit.
Numerous organisations and universities offer support to displaced Ukrainian students. Below, you’ll find some of the support initiatives:
Credential evaluation
UK ENIC – the official organisation that assists with the recognition process of international qualifications on behalf of the UK Government.
Extra information about qualifications framework and official UK agencies can be found on the UK’s dedicated ENIC-NARIC page.
For additional information about the higher education system in the UK, you can check out the official UK Government page or British Council’s Study UK website.
Scholarships and financial aid
STAR scholarships are offered by over 70 universities to refugees or people who have claimed asylum in the country.
Cara Scholarships are aimed at academics who are at risk because of persecution, violence, and conflict.
Another option is contacting the university in which you’re interested to find out if they offer any form of support. Here are a few examples:
- University of Edinburgh: hardship funding for Ukrainian and Russian students
- University of Reading: scholarships for people who seek sanctuary in the UK
- University of Warwick: IAS visiting scholarships and sanctuary scholarships
- University of York: emergency assistance to a limited number of Ukrainian students
- Queen Mary University of London: offers various scholarships and bursaries
While some of the financial aid programmes listed above are aimed at Ukrainian students, others are open to all refugees or students in need.
As long as you meet the criteria, you can also apply for regular scholarships to support your studies at a UK university.
Study programmes and opportunities
Ukrainian students can find various study programmes with tuition fees between 0 and 1,000 GBP per year. These programmes are available at all levels: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD.
The Oxford International Digital Institute have designed a range of online courses for refugees and displaced people in the UK. The courses cover English preparation for life in the UK and English for business.
Learn how to apply at a university in the UK and discover additional information about visas, moving abroad, living costs, etc.
Other support sources
- Ukraine Advice Project UK – free advice about immigration and visas from professionals.
- All the information you need about getting a student visa in the UK.
- Homes for Ukraine – allows UK citizens to provide accommodation to Ukrainian refugees.
- UK for UNHCR – national partner of the UN Refugee Agency that provides additional resources and information about NGOs willing to help.
- Essential information about the education system in the UK on the official Eurydice website.
* Please note we give our best to constantly update the information posted here, but we may not be able to track all specific changes that may occur.