University of Westminster Postgraduate Sanctuary Scholarship 2027 in the UK

Scholarship Details

Introduction

The University of Westminster is offering two Postgraduate Sanctuary Scholarships to support people seeking asylum who are living in the United Kingdom and wish to pursue a full-time master’s degree.

The scholarship is designed to reduce the financial barriers that can prevent people with asylum-related immigration status from accessing postgraduate education. It provides a full tuition fee waiver and a monthly maintenance grant to help eligible students with living expenses while studying in London.

Scholarship Details

• Scholarship name: Postgraduate Sanctuary Scholarship
• Host institution: University of Westminster
• Study destination: London, United Kingdom
• Study level: Postgraduate master’s degree
• Study mode: Full-time only
• Course start: January 2027
• Eligible applicants: UK residents with specified asylum-related immigration statuses
• Number of awards: Two scholarships
• Tuition support: Full tuition fee waiver
• Maintenance grant: £1,000 per month for up to 12 months
• Application deadline: Monday, 2 November 2026, at 5:00 p.m. UK time
• Application fee: No fee is listed on the official scholarship page.

Important: This is a sanctuary scholarship for eligible people living in the UK. It is not a general scholarship for international students applying from Nigeria or other countries outside the UK.

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Scholarship Benefits

1. Full tuition fee waiver

Successful applicants receive a waiver covering the full tuition fees for their eligible master’s course at the University of Westminster.

2. Monthly maintenance grant

The scholarship provides £1,000 per month for up to 12 months, equivalent to a maximum of £12,000 over the 12-month period.

This contribution is intended to help with living costs while the recipient studies.

3. Access to postgraduate education

The award helps eligible students overcome financial barriers to postgraduate study and pursue academic and career goals.

Important funding condition

The application guidance states that if a recipient is subsequently granted an immigration status by the UK Home Office that gives them access to student finance, including tuition fee loans, they will not receive any outstanding maintenance payments. Applicants should read the scholarship conditions carefully and clarify their circumstances with the university if their immigration status changes.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet all the following conditions.

1. Hold an eligible course offer

You must have an offer from the University of Westminster for a place on a full-time master’s course starting in January 2027.

You need a conditional or unconditional course offer before applying for the scholarship.

2. Be resident in the United Kingdom

Applicants must currently be living in the UK. Living outside the UK, even if you are eligible to apply for a master’s programme, does not satisfy this requirement.

3. Hold an eligible immigration status

Before submitting the scholarship application, you must hold one of the following statuses:

• UK asylum seeker
• UK discretionary leave to remain granted as a result of an asylum application
• UK limited leave to remain granted as a result of an asylum application

Applicants must be able to provide evidence confirming their immigration status.

4. Not already hold a master’s degree

Students who already have a master’s degree are not eligible.

5. Not be eligible for taught postgraduate student loans

Applicants who are able to receive taught postgraduate student loans from Student Finance are not eligible for this scholarship.

6. Be applying for an eligible course

The following courses and study arrangements are excluded:

• Postgraduate Diploma programmes
• Professional courses, including RIBA Part III, ACCA, CIMA and CiLEX
• Conversion courses, such as the Graduate Diploma in Law
• Integrated Master’s programmes
• MPhil or PhD programmes
• Part-time study

Applicants should confirm their course classification with the university if they are uncertain whether their programme qualifies.

Required Documents

Applicants must provide evidence of their immigration status and the supporting materials requested for the application.

The university’s published application guidance identifies the following evidence:

• Home Office letter: A letter confirming your immigration status.
• Application Registration Card (ARC): Evidence associated with your asylum application.
• Supporting statement or reference letter: A statement from an eligible referee, such as a teacher or a support worker from a charity such as the Refugee Council.

The application form also requests the following information:

• Full name
• UK residential address
• University of Westminster reference number, an eight-digit number found on your course offer letter
• Course applied for
• Eligible immigration status
• Academic qualifications, including college name and location, qualification details, completion dates and grades obtained or predicted
• Most recent employment history and previous work experience, including job titles, employer details, dates and responsibilities

Personal statement

The published form asks applicants to provide a personal statement of no more than 300 words. It should explain:

• Your personal experiences and circumstances so far.
• The circumstances that led you to migrate to the UK.
• How long you have lived in the UK.
• Your living arrangements, such as private rental accommodation, living with family or temporary accommodation.
• Your immigration status.
• The difficulties you may face paying for tuition and living costs.
• Why you are interested in your chosen course and any relevant career goals.

Applicants must also complete the declaration confirming that the information and supporting evidence are accurate. Incorrect or untrue information may result in a scholarship offer being withdrawn.

Important document check: The downloadable PDF currently available in the university’s search results is labelled for the 2026/27 scheme but contains an earlier September 2026 course start and a July 2026 deadline. The live scholarship webpage now specifies January 2027 entry and a 2 November 2026 deadline. Contact the Scholarships Office to confirm the correct application form and supporting-document requirements for the January 2027 intake before submitting.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted by email, rather than through a general online scholarship application portal.

• Secure a course offer. Apply for an eligible full-time master’s course at the University of Westminster starting in January 2027. You must have a conditional or unconditional offer before applying for the scholarship.
• Read the official scholarship page. Check the current eligibility requirements, exclusions, funding conditions and deadline.
• Obtain the correct application form. Download the form linked from the official scholarship page, but confirm with the Scholarships Office that it is the correct version for January 2027.
• Complete the application. Provide your personal information, course and academic details, immigration status, relevant work experience and personal statement.
• Gather supporting evidence. Prepare your Home Office letter, Application Registration Card and supporting statement or letter from an eligible referee, along with any other evidence the university requests.
• Prepare your email submission. Attach your completed application form and all required supporting documents as PDF files.
• Submit by email. Send your completed application and supporting evidence to scholarships@westminster.ac.uk before the deadline. The published application guidance instructs applicants to submit the application and relevant documents together in one email and warns that applications cannot be amended after receipt.
• Wait for the decision. Eligible applications are considered by an awarding panel. The published guidance states that applicants will be informed of the outcome within two weeks after the deadline.

The scholarship is competitive. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee that you will receive an award.

Selection Criteria and Assessment

The university considers the application as a whole, taking account of the applicant’s individual circumstances and potential.

The published application guidance identifies three areas for consideration:

• Academic record: The applicant’s academic qualifications and achievements.
• Personal circumstances: The applicant’s individual situation, including their asylum-related circumstances and financial barriers to education.
• Application responses: The answers provided to the questions in the application form, including the personal statement.

All eligible applications are considered by an awarding panel. The panel recognises that applicants may have different skills, attributes and experiences, and considers these factors when assessing applications.

Because only two scholarships are available, meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee selection.

Application Deadline and Important Dates

Submit your application well before the deadline to allow time to confirm your documents and ensure that your email submission is complete.

Official Application Links and Contact

• Application form: Access the PDF from the official scholarship page and confirm that it is the correct January 2027 version.
• Scholarships Office email: scholarships@westminster.ac.uk
• University: University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

For questions about eligibility, the correct application form or required documents, contact the Scholarships Office directly.

Conclusion

The University of Westminster Postgraduate Sanctuary Scholarship 2027 offers two eligible students full tuition fee support and a maintenance grant of £1,000 per month for up to 12 months.

It is specifically intended for people seeking asylum who are living in the UK, hold an eligible asylum-related immigration status and have an offer for an eligible full-time master’s course beginning in January 2027.

Deadline: 2 November 2026 at 5:00 p.m. UK time.

Before applying, secure your course offer, prepare your immigration evidence and personal statement, and confirm the correct January 2027 application form with the university. Applicants must submit the completed form and supporting evidence as PDF attachments to scholarships@westminster.ac.uk.