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Open Futures Sanctuary Scholarship

The Open University believes that accessible education is a powerful tool for social mobility, improving people’s lives, and building better communities.

The Open Futures Sanctuary Scholarship is offering the opportunity for 12 students to study up to 360 credits for free.

What is the Open Futures Sanctuary Scholarship?

The Open Futures Sanctuary Scholarship provides the opportunity for new, UK-resident students who have been displaced from their homeland or place of residence for political, economic, ethnic, environmental, or human rights pressures, to study for free.

12 scholarships will be available in 2023/24. A scholarship covers up to 360 credits of OU undergraduate credit-bearing study, paying for the full tuition cost of these credits, up to 120 credits each seasonal academic year and 360 credits in total.

Successful recipients of a scholarship will also receive a free starter pack of equipment to ensure they are ready to study. The starter pack will include a laptop with Microsoft Office, a laptop case, a keyboard and mouse, a printer, printer ink and paper.

Unsuccessful applicants will be offered the opportunity to study a 30 credit Open University Access module, starting in October 2023 for free.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a scholarship, you’ll need to meet all the following criteria.

  • Be a forced migrant to the United Kingdom; applicants must have one of the following immigration statues:
    • Asylum Seeker
    • Refugee
    • Humanitarian Protection
    • Indefinite, limited or discretionary leave to remain as a result of an application for protection in the UK
    • Limited leave to remain as a result of an application to either the Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme
  • Have a personal annual income of not more than £25,000 or be in receipt of a qualifying benefit
  • Be ordinarily resident in the UK
  • Hold no existing higher education qualification attained in the UK
  • Be a new student to The Open University in the academic year 2023/24
  • Be intending to enrol for an undergraduate OU module commencing in the 2023/24 academic year. If you are applying for an Access Module Fee Waiver you must be intending to study an Access module
  • Be studying at a minimum intensity of 25% (30 credits) per academic year

Full details of the scheme are available in the scholarship terms and conditions.

How to apply

Applications for academic year 2023/24 are now closed. If you’re successful, we’ll email you by 28 July 2023 to confirm. We’ll also contact you soon afterwards to ensure you’re ready to study and to help you choose your course.

Need more information?

Our advisers are on hand to answer any questions you might have about the Open Futures Sanctuary Scholarship. Don’t hesitate to call us on 0300 303 5303.