Description

Are you an asylum seeker, refugee, or someone seeking humanitarian protection with a desire to pursue a PhD at Loughborough University? The Loughborough University Sanctuary PhD Scholarship 2025/2026 is a remarkable opportunity designed to support high-achieving international students who are at risk or seeking sanctuary. This fully funded PhD scholarship is available at both the Loughborough campus and the London campus in the East Midlands and London, UK. The scholarship covers 100% of tuition fees and provides a full bursary for living costs, set at the recommended UKRI rate of £19,237 per annum. Don’t miss the upcoming application deadline on 23 June 2025 for the October 2025 or January 2026 start.

Degree Level

Loughborough University UK Sanctuary PhD Scholarship 2025 (Fully Funded) is available to undertake PhD level programs at Loughborough University.

Duration: 

• The scholarship is awarded for three years of full-time PhD study.

Types of Study Available:

• Both full-time and part-time study options are available, with flexible arrangements for scholars with caring responsibilities or other requirements.

Available Subjects

Following subject are available to study under this scholarship program.

• All Subjects

Benefits

The Loughborough University Sanctuary PhD Scholarship provides comprehensive financial support, including:

• Full Tuition Fee Waiver: 100% of the tuition fees are covered for the entire duration of the PhD programme.
• Full Bursary: A stipend of £19,237 per annum for living costs, subject to annual uplifts. This bursary is provided for a period of 3 years for full-time PhD study.

Eligible Nationalities

The scholarship is designed for individuals who meet one of the following criteria:

• Asylum Seekers: Individuals who have applied for asylum and are awaiting a decision.
• Refugees: Those who have been granted refugee status.
• Humanitarian Protection: Individuals with humanitarian protection status in the UK.
• Limited or Discretionary Leave to Remain: Those with temporary permission to stay in the UK for a specific reason.
• Indefinite Leave to Remain: Permanent residents who are not yet British citizens.
• Ukraine or Afghan Schemes: Applicants who are beneficiaries of special immigration schemes for people from Ukraine or Afghanistan.
• British National Overseas (BNO): Individuals from Hong Kong holding BNO status.

Other Forms of Sanctuary:

• Calais Leave: Granted to children transferred to the UK from Calais.
• Section 67 Leave (Dubs Amendment): For unaccompanied children at risk transferred to the UK.
• UASC Leave: Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children who have been given temporary leave to remain.
• Stateless Leave: Individuals recognized as stateless.

Key Notes:

• No specific nationality is required, but applicants must fall under one of the eligible immigration categories listed above.
• Applicants can be from any country in the world, provided they meet the sanctuary or immigration status requirements.
• This opportunity is also open to individuals currently outside the UK who fit the sanctuary categories and wish to pursue a PhD at Loughborough University.
• The scholarship is particularly aimed at ‘at-risk scholars’, which generally includes individuals fleeing conflict, war, persecution, or those facing significant personal safety risks in their home country.

Eligibility Criteria

• Academic Excellence: Must show evidence of exceptional academic achievement.
• Offer of Study: Applicants must hold a conditional or unconditional offer for a PhD programme at Loughborough University (either at the Loughborough campus or the London campus).
• Part-Time PhD Applicants: Those wishing to study part-time must either be residing in the UK or have caring responsibilities. Full-time employed applicants are not eligible for the scholarship.

Application Procedure

The application procedure for the Sanctuary PhD Scholarship at Loughborough University is as follows:

Apply for a PhD Programme:

• First, apply for a PhD programme at Loughborough University and obtain a conditional or unconditional offer.
• Only after receiving an offer letter, you can proceed to apply for the scholarship.

Submit Scholarship Application:

• Complete the scholarship application form available on the official website: Loughborough University Sanctuary PhD Scholarships.
• Ensure all parts of the form are completed in full.
• Submit the application before the respective application deadlines.
• A confirmation email will be sent upon successful submission of the application.

Selection Process:

• The scholarship application procedure is an open competition.
• Shortlisted candidates will be contacted with further details about the next steps.

Application Deadline and Timeline

The application deadline for the Loughborough University Sanctuary PhD Scholarship is:

• 23 June 2025: For applicants starting in October 2025 or January 2026.

Why Choose Loughborough University?

Loughborough University is renowned for its world-class research, high academic standards, and diverse international community. With two dynamic campuses in the East Midlands and London, the university offers state-of-the-art facilities, a supportive learning environment, and excellent career development opportunities for PhD students.

Don’t Miss the Deadline – Apply Now!

The Loughborough University Sanctuary PhD Scholarship is a life-changing opportunity for international students facing humanitarian crises or seeking asylum. With full tuition coverage and a generous stipend, this scholarship empowers talented scholars to pursue postgraduate research in a world-class academic environment.

Prepare your application today and take the next step toward a bright academic future at Loughborough University.