The Michael Perham Sanctuary Scholarship 2024/25

Introduction

Named after the former Bishop of Gloucester and University Pro Chancellor, the late Rt. Revd Michael Perham, this scholarship has been established in recognition of the additional challenges and barriers in accessing higher education faced by students whose immigration status means they do not qualify for student finance.

Value of the scholarship

Up to two Sanctuary Scholarships will be awarded per academic year:

1. For one student undertaking an undergraduate degree

2. For one student undertaking a taught postgraduate degree

Each Sanctuary Scholar will receive a tuition-fee waiver for the duration of their course, subject to acceptable engagement and a. In addition, each recipient will receive support with reasonable study costs. Appropriate support will be discussed with the successful applicants, but as an example, may include:

Public transport costs to attend lectures and other on-campus course activity. Please note: travel costs can only be funded within the West Gold Stagecoach bus network travel area
Long-term loan of a laptop and other essential course equipment
Vouchers for the university’s on-campus catering outlets, to enable attendance of lectures or other course activities.

Please also note that the Scholarship is not able to support accommodation costs or everyday living costs.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants for either the UG or PGT Scholarship will:

Be resident in the UK, with priority given to applicants living within Gloucestershire and immediate surrounding region*
Have an immigration status which means they do not qualify for Student Finance
Have received an offer of a place on an undergraduate or postgraduate-taught degree course at the University of Gloucestershire (if you have not already applied for a course, you may do so via UCAS and should wait to receive an offer of a place prior to applying to the Sanctuary Scholarship). Please note that the scholarship is only open to students whose course involves studying at a University of Gloucestershire campus, not at a franchised college.
If seeking asylum, must have submitted a request for asylum to the UK Home Office before applying to the University of Gloucestershire
Have completed the Sanctuary Scholarship application by 24 May 2024, including evidence confirming immigration status (allowing us to confirm ineligibility for student finance).
Be able to provide contact details for a referee from a school, college, current/former employer or community/voluntary group. Referees will only be contacted for shortlisted candidates.

* Please note that while we do not stipulate that eligible applicants must live within Gloucestershire or the surrounding region, we are only able to provide support with public transport costs covering a maximum of the West Gold Stagecoach bus network travel area. If you live outside this area, please consider whether it would be possible and affordable for you to travel to the Cheltenham or Gloucester campus where your course is based several times a week to attend your lectures and other course activities, as we are not able to fund additional travel costs via the Scholarship.

Selection process

Applications for the Sanctuary Scholarship will be assessed by a Selection Panel against the following criteria:

Assessment of competency for the selected course based on academic profile and/or professional experience, and suitable level of English language competency, plus your personal statement covering why you have applied for the programme and your future career aspirations.
Reference in support of your application (requested only for shortlisted candidates).
We may also ask you to attend an interview (in person at one of our Cheltenham or Gloucester campuses, or via MS Teams) with members of the Sanctuary Scholarship Steering Group plus, in some circumstances, the Course Leader or a member of the lecturing team of your preferred degree programme.

Conditions of Scholarship

Award holders are required to:

Meet the university’s expected standards of engagement and attendance
Attend at least one meeting a semester with their appointed named contact within the University’s Sanctuary Scholarship Steering Group
Inform the University immediately of any changes to their immigration status