Belfast Metropolitan College is providing full scholarship places for a number of asylum seekers commencing study this September.
The aim of the scholarship award is to provide opportunities to those who have been displaced, especially asylum seekers who do not have the right to work in the UK but can study.
With extremely limited options provided to them to pay for their education, the college is keen to offer them access to education.
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The scholarship will cover the total fees of the students’ college course for the academic year 2022-2023.
Applications for the Sanctuary Scholarship Award are open to those who are registered asylum seekers in the UK, currently living in Northern Ireland, and unable to access mainstream UK student funding due to their immigration status.
Award recipients must have submitted an application for a place of study and have been accepted onto a further or higher education course at Belfast Metropolitan College starting in this coming academic year.
Harry Robinson, Head of Academic and Continuing Education said: “Belfast Met is recognised as Northern Ireland’s first College of Sanctuary and plays an important role in the education and integration of those seeking asylum in NI.
“I am delighted that we are able to provide the new Sanctuary Scholarship Award to help give much needed support to those learners that experience particular hardship and barriers to education due to their immigration status.”
Principal and Chief Executive of Belfast Metropolitan College, Louise Warde Hunter added: “Our College prides itself on having an inclusive, doors-open-to-all approach to teaching, with a particular focus on providing opportunities to those most disadvantaged in our society.
“It is only right that we offer the scholarship award to two asylum seekers who have sadly had to find refuge in Northern Ireland due to the very difficult conditions in their own country.
“Education is a basic human right and we are proud to be able to support asylum seekers by providing them with skills, knowledge and qualifications which will hopefully be useful when they have their asylum recognised.
“We would encourage any student who is looking to attend our College in September and who is living in Northern Ireland as an Asylum Seeker to apply for the scholarship programme. We would be honoured to support you on your educational journey.”
Applications for the Sanctuary Scholarship Award are now open and can be found on the Belfast Met website. The closing date for applications is 12pm on Friday 2 nd September.
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