Financial support for asylum seekers with Refugee status, Humanitarian Protection or Discretionary Leave
Refugees with Refugee status, Humanitarian Protection or Discretionary Leave in Scotland who qualify for funding will be treated as Scottish nationals for funding purposes. On 1 April 2003 the Home Office introduced new rules whereby Exceptional Leave (ELR/ELE) was replaced by Humanitarian Protection (HP) and Discretionary Leave (DL). For those who currently hold ELR/ELE status the existing rules will continue to apply.
Asylum seekers who are still awaiting a decision from the Border and Immigration Agency must fulfil the settled status requirement and are, therefore, ineligible for financial support in higher education. However, following regulations approved by the Scottish Parliament in August 2007, children of asylum seekers and young unaccompanied asylum seekers in Scotland who were under 18 at the time when their or their parents’ application for asylum was made (the application must have been made prior to 1 December 2006) and who are under 25 at the appropriate date relative to the beginning of the course, are eligible to receive fee support in full-time further and higher education in Scotland, provided they have been ordinarily resident in Scotland for three years.
English language courses are free to all asylum seekers and refugees (except at universities).
How can I find out more?
As this information is subject to change, it is always a good idea to contact the individual institution or organisation to check what they can offer you.
What if I already have a qualification?
There are a number of national schemes that have been designed to assist asylum seekers and refugees who have previous professional qualifications.