The University of Sanctuary is an initiative to recognise and celebrate the good practice of universities welcoming people seeking sanctuary through facilitated access to higher education (HE), supporting local refugee communities, and taking an active role in learning about the issues and obstacles faced by this group in pursuing HE.

The aim is to develop a culture and practice of welcome within institutions, the wider community, and across the HE sector in the UK.

We are looking to develop and expand our welcome for people seeking sanctuary by becoming accredited with the University of Sanctuary Award.

Becoming a University of Sanctuary will bring a wealth of benefits, some of which include:

• Sanctuary seeking students enrich academic discussions and campus life by bringing new perspectives and cultures together.
• Establishing a culture of welcome for sanctuary seekers, where people feel valued and safe, will have knock-on benefits for other university-users.
• Taking a practical, public step towards inclusion, and countering discourses of xenophobia and racism both within and outside university life.
• Being a part of a dynamic group of universities working to improve the culture of sanctuary in higher education (HE) and in society generally.