This paragraph provides details about funding opportunities across Europe for refugees. Following the outbreak of the refugee crisis in Europe in 2015/2016, various organizations, universities, states and cities have offered scholarships specifically for refugees who are eligible to start studying or wish to continue their interrupted studies.
Germany provides a range of very well-structured and organized services for refugees who are eligible to study at a German university. Especially if you are a recognized refugee, you will be treated just like any other international student applicant, in terms of applying for and gaining admission to a degree programme (
Paths to Studying at a German University). As far as funding is concerned, Germany has also well-established scholarship programmes for refugees.
As mentioned above, the best option is to obtain government funding in accordance with the
BAföG legislation. ‘BAföG’ stands for equal opportunities in the German higher education system. This funding opportunity has been in existence since 1971. There are several ways to obtain financial aid, all of which depend on three main criteria: how long you have been in Germany; how old you are, and what your residence status is. For example, the Hessian State Ministry for Higher Education, Research and the Arts awards the “HessenFonds” scholarship to especially gifted refugee students, doctoral candidates and academics at universities in the Federal State of Hesse. You can find more information about funding opportunities
here.
Another example of a well-established funding opportunity for refugees is the so-called ‘University of Sanctuary Scholarship’. This provides tuition fee waivers (i.e. no fees) to first-time higher education applicants who are beneficiaries of international protection, as defined by the UNHCR 1951 Refugee Convention. These scholarships are part of a UK initiative called “
Universities of Sanctuary”. The City of Sanctuary organization has formed partnerships with a variety of different bodies, including Student Action for Refugees, with the aim of developing a network to inspire and support universities in developing a culture and practice of welcome within their own institutions, in their wider communities, and across the higher education sector in the UK. A growing number of these universities are now being recognized as Universities of Sanctuary. A few examples of higher education institutions in the UK that provide “shelter” for academics and young people who are trying to find ways to build a life in today’s political and social context are the following;
Cork Institute of Technology,
Dublin City University,
National University of Ireland Galway,
University College Cork, and the
University of Manchester. Finally, a really useful tool for finding scholarship opportunities is the
platform launched by UNHCR, which helps you to find UNHCR-accredited academic or scholarship programmes in higher education institutions that enable you to pursue advanced studies, skills and professional development.
