The Distance Learning (DL) Sanctuary Awards at the University of Leicester are designed to support individuals who have been forcibly displaced from their homes or are at risk of political persecution, violence, or conflict, offering them the opportunity to pursue a part-time distance learning Master’s degree from anywhere in the world. These awards aim to remove financial and logistical barriers to higher education for those whose educational journeys have been disrupted due to displacement and insecurity. The awards are open for various courses starting in October 2025, January 2026, and April 2026.
Summary
- Application Deadline: September 5, 2025
- Study Level: Master’s
- Sponsor: University of Leicester
- City to Study: Leicester
- School to Study: University of Leicester
- Courses to Study: Archaeology, History, Human Resource Management, Intelligence, International Human Rights, International Relations, Law, Politics & International Studies, Human Rights and Global Ethics, Security, Conflict and International Development, Intelligence and Security MA, Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management, Security and Risk Management, Urban Conservation
- Eligible Country: All Countries
Eligibility Criteria for University of Leicester Distance Learning (DL) Sanctuary Awards 2025-26
Applicants must:
- Have an academic offer (conditional or unconditional) to study a part-time, distance learning postgraduate course from the eligible list
- You can choose the part-time version of any of the following distance learning Master’s programmes:
- Human Rights and Global Ethics MA
- Security, Conflict and International Development MA
- Intelligence and Security MA
- International Relations and World Order MA
- The Politics of Conflict and Violence MA
- Human Resource Management and Training MSc
- Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management MSc
- Security and Risk Management MSc
- Applied Linguistics and TESOL MA
- International Education MA
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education (International) iPGCE
- Employment Law LLM
- Media and Public Relations MA
- Museum Studies MA/MSc
- Socially Engaged Practice in Museums and Galleries MA/MSc
- Archaeology and Heritage MA
- Ancient History and Classical Archaeology MA
- Urban Conservation MA
- Have experienced forced displacement or be at risk of political persecution, violence, or conflict
- Be located anywhere in the world with reliable internet access
- Provide supporting evidence of their immigration status (or explain their current situation if documentation is not available)
- Submit a supporting statement addressing:
- Barriers to education due to displacement or conflict (250–300 words)
- Future ambitions and how the award will support them (250–300 words)
Priority will be given to applicants facing the greatest barriers to education and who are not eligible for government student finance schemes.
Deadlines
- For October 2025 start: Apply by 5 September 2025, 9.00am (UK time)
- For January 2026 start: Apply by 5 December 2025, 9.00am (UK time)
- For April 2026 start: Apply by 6 March 2026, 9.00am (UK time)
Benefits of University of Leicester Distance Learning (DL) Sanctuary Awards 2025-26
The DL Sanctuary Award provides a full tuition fee waiver for eligible students enrolled in part-time distance learning Master’s programmes at the University of Leicester.
How to Apply
-
- Apply for a place on your chosen course from those listed above (part-time study only). The application form is available via the relevant Master’s programme link above. Please note that start dates may not be the same for each course.
- Once you have an academic offer (conditional or unconditional) please apply for the Distance Learning Sanctuary Award. Please note that you need to first have an academic offer before you submit a scholarship application. For the ‘What is your likely source of funding?’ question, please select ‘DL Sanctuary Award’.
- Provide evidence of your current immigration status (wherever you are in the world) to the Admissions Team as soon as possible after you submit your application (please send them to dladmissions@leicester.ac.uk). If you have no evidence of your immigration status, please email sanctuary@le.ac.uk to give us more information about your current situation.
- It is essential that all three steps above have been completed before you will be considered for a DL Sanctuary Award.
For more details, visit University of Leicester Scholarship webpage
Application Deadline
September 5, 2025
