Stock image: The award will cover the full cost of the tuition fees which could be up to £14,500 for a one year course
(Picture: PA Wire)A London university will pay the tuition fees of five students who have fled the war in Ukraine, saying it has a moral duty to help.
St Mary’s University, Twickenham, has created five postgraduate scholarships in a bid to help Ukrainian people rebuild their lives after such an “appalling upheaval”.
The scholarships are open to anyone who was living in Ukraine on February 23 – the day before Russia attacked.
Anthony McClaran, St Mary’s Vice-Chancellor, said: “Students and staff across the university, and indeed throughout the higher education sector, have been deeply touched by the harrowing images of the war in Ukraine and the plight of civilians escaping the conflict.
“As an institution, we believe in the transformative power of education. It allows people from all walks of life to change their outcomes through developing skills and accessing knowledge.
“We feel it is our moral duty to provide access to education for people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, to help the successful applicants to rebuild their lives after such an appalling upheaval.”
The scholarships are for entry to St Mary’s in September this year or January and September 2023.
The award will cover the full cost of the tuition fees which could be up to £14,500 for a one year course.
The university said if students want to stay in Ukraine or another country in which they have sought refuge they can complete their studies through distance learning.
Students at St Mary’s have already held fundraising events for refugees from Ukraine, held vigils and prayer meetings for victims of the war.
Mr McClaran said: “I am sure our entire community will be delighted to hear of the provision of these scholarships for victims of the war and welcome the successful applicants with open arms.”
There are two scholarships available for places on any St Mary’s Master’s Degree, one place on the MA Social Justice and Public Service course and two places on the MA Catholic Social Teaching or Catholic School Leadership course.
The university, based on a campus in Strawberry Hill, was originally set up by the Catholic Poor Schools Committee to meet the need for teachers to provide an education for the growing number of poor Catholic children.
It said it has a proud history of widening access to education.
