Dear colleagues,

I hope this mailing finds you and your communities well. This edition brings exciting updates about the conference, award applications, and a call to action to sign a letter to the Minister of HE.

However, we cannot ignore the ongoing and escalating violence in the Middle East. We continue to worry and stand in solidarity with those affected, we keep in our minds all lives that have been lost, and all those that are currently being displaced.

It is vital that we collectively do everything we can to ensure people in our communities and beyond feel understood, safe, and supported. We encourage universities to continue increasing the support available for the students, networks, and academic communities affected, and to take extra steps in ensuring there is further wellbeing, financial, academic, and other pastoral care to support them during this time.

Kind regards,
Maryam, Universities of Sanctuary 

Join us at this year's annual Universities of Sanctuary conference taking place on the 17th of December, with a Scholars day for students on December 16th. This conference is being generously hosted and supported by the University of York, and will focus on the theme of embedding cultures of sanctuary throughout university structures, and working towards holistic, sustainable and proactive Sanctuary at Universities.

Main conference Registration Page

Scholar's Day Registration Page

Help us spread the word for this annual gathering of students, researchers and staff from universities and the Third Sector, with a shared interest in refugees' access to Higher Education in the UK. We also encourage universities to support their Sanctuary Scholars to attend either or both days.

If you would like to host a session, a workshop, or contribute to the conference in any way, please reply to this email.

Please note: the conference fee is intended to support the travel and accommodation costs of people who otherwise would be unable to participate.

As interest in UoS continues to grow, we remain committed to working with every university interested in promoting sanctuary values. Still, we have implemented deadlines to ensure applying universities receive the support and communication they need and that your expectations and the awards process are clear. 

Application Deadlines for New Universities

If your university wishes to apply for the University of Sanctuary award in 2025, the application window will open from 1st January to 31st January. All applicants will receive a decision by April 2025.

After submitting your application, we will:

• Review your application as an appraisal team
• Provide feedback
• Arrange an appraisal visit/meeting
• Share award decision. 

In the meantime, if you working towards sending an application, you can submit a draft to us to review and receive initial feedback. We accept draft applications up until 18th November and you will receive informal feedback before the December holidays.

If you already submitted an application before this announcement, your application will be reviewed from January, with priority given based on the date of submission. We will be in touch with those that already applied individually to confirm their review dates.

Application Deadline for Renewing Universities (reappraisals)  

Universities due to renew will be contacted individually to confirm whether they are renewing the award or their intended date to renew. Renewals will be processed between May and August 2025. Priority for processing renewals will be given to universities with the oldest award date.

In the meantime, we will finalise feedback and get back to all the institutions that have already submitted for renewal before the end of the year.

We hope this will continue to support universities in their work to be a place of sanctuary and further recognise your positive efforts.

• Are you a Higher Education professional who wants to hear about updates, recourses and news from the HE and refugee sector? Sign up to the Universities of Sanctuary Jisc List.
• Do you have lived experience of seeking sanctuary and want to hear about latest updates about scholarships, training & funding to access university? Sign up to STAR'S Access to University Mailing List.

Together, we are building a culture of welcome. If you understand the vital importance of building sanctuary in universities and beyond, please dig deep and help City of Sanctuary UK to support the Universities of Sanctuary network during these very challenging times. Click here to donate. Thank you.