Equal Access

Equal Access logo

Asylum applicants do not have equal access to university education. As a student network STAR believes that this is wrong and that higher education should be equally accessible to all.

STAR is campaigning to ensure that asylum seekers have Equal Access to higher education and can join us at university as equals. Read on to find out how to bring the campaign to your university!

Barriers to higher education

Refugees and asylum seekers face a number of barriers to accessing higher education, including:

Fees and living costs:

  • Asylum seekers and some refugees are classed as overseas students and must pay fees on average of £11,650 per year instead of the “home fee” rate of £6,000 – £9,000.
  • They are not allowed to take out student loans
  • They are not eligible for bursaries
  • They cannot apply to most scholarships
  • They are not allowed to work

Admissions policies: Asylum seekers and some refugees do not have permission to reside in the UK for the duration of a university course and therefore fail the admissions tests for many universities.

Information and advice: Many refugees and asylum seekers do not have access to good information and support about their rights to education and the application process

Asylum seekers often wait many years for a decision on their claim and many, like Gamu and Lamine, have studied in the British education system and gained excellent GCSE and A level results. It helps no one to deny these people the opportunity to continue their studies at university.

Equal Access Pledge

STAR has launched a Pledge asking universities to commit to do all they can to ensure that higher education is equally accessible to refugees and asylum seekers.

The Pledge

“Everyone has the right to education… and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit,” Art. 26, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Refugees and asylum seekers who are offered places in UK universities cannot take them up on equal terms with their British born peers because of inequality in fees, access to loans and permission to work.

This University supports the right to education and is committed to doing all it can to provide equal access on the basis of merit for UK students, refugees and asylum seekers.

Downloads

Pledge Vice-Chancellor Sign up
Student Petition
Individual Sign up

Campaign Aims

STAR believes equal access will only be achieved when asylum seekers are:

  • Eligible for the same bursaries open to British students from disadvantaged backgrounds
  • Eligible for scholarships
  • Charged home fees by all universities in Britain
  • Welcomed as a valuable part of our university community

Following the general commitment underscored by the Pledge, STAR is thus calling on universities to do all they can to provide equal access on the basis of merit for UK students, refugees and asylum seekers, including:

  • Open up access to bursaries and scholarships to asylum seekers
  • Treat all or a quota of asylum seekers as home students and charge them “home fees”
  • Welcome asylum seekers as a valuable part of our university community

Can universities do this? Certainly. These asks are based on current best practice among British universities. Some universities, such as Manchester and Leeds already reduce tuition fees for asylum seekers. Well done them!

In addition to work around the Equal Access Pledge, STAR is promoting Equal Access through:

  • Raising awareness of the barriers asylum seekers and refugees face accessing higher education and of the positive contribution they make to university life
  • Supporting policy change to give those with discretionary leave to remain “home fees”
  • Working with partner organizations to develop a coordinated approach to improving access
  • Signposting potential students to advice

As a supporter of the Still Human Still Here campaign, STAR is also campaigning for asylum seekers to be given the right to work.

Check out our Equal Access campaign video to see how you can get on board with the campaign!

What your STAR group can do


Bristol STAR group

  • Find out about your university’s policy
  • Get your Student Union’s support
  • Raise awareness among students
  • Write to your Vice-Chancellor
  • Meet with your Vice-Chancellor

Download our ‘Step by Step Guide for STAR campaigners’ below to find out how!

Resources & materials

Campaign News

Stories

Links