The University of Manchester Humanitarian Scholarships
Social responsibility lies at the heart of our University and we are committed to playing our part in helping those fleeing conflict and persecution by offering the opportunity to study at Manchester.
Set up in 2022, our Humanitarian Scholarship programme is intended to support individuals at immediate risk who have been forced to flee their homes as a direct result of armed conflict. The awards cover full tuition fees, living expenses and visas.
For 2023 entry, we are offering up to five undergraduate and five master’s scholarships.
The scholarships are available for a wide range of full-time undergraduate and postgraduate-taught programmes excluding medicine, dentistry, nursing and architecture.
Applicants must obtain an offer of admission before applying for the scholarship. The scholarship application window will open on 1 March 2023 and close on 14 April 2023.
Eligibility criteria
To apply for a scholarship, you must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:
- be at serious risk as a direct result of armed conflict, and/or
- be displaced inside your own country or have been forced to leave your home country within the last three years because of armed conflict;
- be unable to access or complete higher education;
- have not previously studied, at any level, in the UK or EU;
- have received an offer of admission for entry in September 2023;
- be able to demonstrate knowledge of, and commitment, to your chosen course;
- have an excellent academic background. The awards are for academically outstanding students and typically this means that you are in the top 10% of your class.
We do not accept applications from individuals who are currently in the UK or EU. Individuals in the UK on the Ukraine visa schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Scheme, and Ukraine Extension Scheme) have access to student finance and can apply for both tuition fee and maintenance loan funding from Student Finance England. If you are an asylum seeker or refugee in the UK and want to study for an undergraduate degree, we offer Article 26 Sanctuary Seeking Scholarships.
Available courses
To be eligible for a scholarship, you must choose a full-time course. Part-time and online courses are not included.
Undergraduate
The scholarships are available for three-year undergraduate degrees. Applicants for Medicine (MBChB), Dentistry (BDS), Nursing or Architecture degrees are not eligible for the scholarships.
We will offer scholarships for our integrated foundation year or biosciences foundation programme for candidates who do not have the right qualifications for direct entry to any of our three year degree courses in engineering, natural sciences and biosciences. However, funding is not available for the foundation programme run in partnership with INTO Manchester.
Master's
Our MBA and Clinical Medicine and Dentistry postgraduate degrees are not included in the scholarship programme.
How to apply for academic admission
To apply for the scholarship, you must first receive an offer of admission. If you do not hold an offer then you cannot be considered.
Please note that obtaining an academic offer does not mean that you are guaranteed a scholarship. Academic admission and scholarship selection are two separate processes.
Undergraduate
You should apply through UCAS. Visit the Undergraduate application process page for more information. Applicants for undergraduate courses may submit a conditional offer with their scholarship application but must have selected The University of Manchester as their firm UCAS choice by 19 May 2023.
Master's
For master’s level courses, you can apply online. Applicants for master’s programmes must hold an unconditional offer at the time of the scholarship application. Conditional offer holders will not be considered.
Some courses, where there is a high demand for places, operate a staged admissions process with selection deadlines throughout the year. We advise you to apply as early as possible.
In the funding section of the application form, under funding sources, please choose The University of Manchester scheme and for awarding body type write Humanitarian Scholarship.
In your formal offer letter, you may be asked to pay an acceptance deposit in order to secure your place. You do not need to do this. If your scholarship application is successful then the requirement to pay a deposit will be waived.
Applying for the scholarship
Applications open on 1 March 2023 and close on 14 April 2023.
The form will be live on 1 March 2023.
If you’re applying for a master’s scholarship, you must upload a copy of your unconditional offer letter with your scholarship application. We cannot accept any documents sent by email. Candidates for the undergraduate scholarship should include their UCAS ID number on the form. You will receive an automatic acknowledgment when you submit the application but you will not receive any separate confirmation by email.
Timeline for 2023/24 scholarship applications
| Scholarship application window opens | 1 March 2023 |
| Deadline to submit scholarship application | 14 April 2023 |
|
Deadline for undergraduate applicants to accept Manchester as their firm UCAS choice |
19 May 2023 |
| Selection panel assesses applications | May 2023 |
| Results communicated to applicants | 30 June 2023 |
| Students arrive in Manchester | September 2023 |
Assessment criteria
When reviewing scholarship applications, the University selection panel will consider:
- the level of risk you are experiencing and how this is impacting on your ability to pursue higher education;
- academic merit and potential;
- demonstrated interest in the field of study;
- your financial circumstances and if you have received funding from any other source to support your studies.
Selection process
After submitting your application please wait to hear if you have been selected. There is no interview required for the scholarship. We guarantee to be in touch with you by 30 June 2023 at the latest. We will email all candidates to let them know our decision, whether successful or unsuccessful.
Contact us
If you have any questions that are not answered on this page, please send them to: humanitarian-scholarship@manchester.ac.uk