Displaced / Refugee Learners

Displaced (Refugee) Learners are students who are classed as being either Refugee or Seeking Asylum, or have another immigration status such as Limited Leave to Remain (LLR) or Discretionary Leave to Remain (DLR), due to being displaced from their country of origin. Students who are Seeking Asylum, or have DLR or LLR statuses, are considered to have 'overseas status' and therefore are not eligible for home fees or student finance. Students with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), Refugee status or who are here under Humanitarian Protection are granted 'home status' and therefore are eligible for home fees and student finance.

Students we support

If you are a home fee, full-time, undergraduate student with refugee status classed as either Refugee, Indefinite Leave to Remain, or Humanitarian Protection, you may be eligible for support from the Widening Access and Student Success team. The availability of support, financial and otherwise, is subject to confirmation of eligible status and the time you have held that status.

What can we offer you?

The Student Success team are dedicated to supporting you to be successful throughout your journey at Herts and beyond.

Personalised support
- Support from the Student Success team who you can email or phone for guidance and support.
- A tailored newsletter with opportunities, events and support available to you as a Student Success Student.
- Access to coaching to support you with motivation and confidence for your studies.
Financial support
We can support you with additional costs so that you can focus on your studies.
- A Displaced Learners Bursary worth £1000 per year for up to three years of undergraduate study (subject to eligibility checks). View the Displaced Learners Bursary Terms and Conditions. We contact eligible students direct about the bursary but if you want to check your eligibility or have any other questions about it, please email our inbox at studentsuccess@herts.ac.uk.
- Assistance with the provision or purchase of a laptop to support your studies.
- You will be able to apply for the Student Opportunity Fund; a grant that exists to support students to have experiences that would benefit their studies or careers, but which they cannot afford to pay for themselves.
- Expert advice from our Student Funding and Financial Support Team on managing your finances. This team will also be able to support Displaced Learners who start their studies with overseas status but get a home status designation during their studies access the funding they are entitled to.
- Access to the University’s financial support fund for students experiencing financial difficulty.
- Short-term financial support for living and study costs (for example food vouchers, travel or equipment related to your course).
Accommodation
- Access to the Displaced / Refugee Learners' Accommodation Discount Scheme which provides discounted on-campus accommodation for the duration of your course
- We can also support you with accommodation issues (both on campus and privately rented accommodation) through our connections with the University's Housing and Welfare teams.
Opportunities
You will have exclusive access to opportunities to develop your skills and Graduate Attributes:
- Help with preparing for employment in the career of your choice by working closely with our expert colleagues in the Careers and Employment Service here at the University.
- Part-time work such as a Widening Access and Student Success Ambassador.
- Support in applying for your Go Herts Award, an award which will increase your confidence in talking about your skills gained from activity outside of your degree.
- Priority access to workshops and resources provided by the Student Success team, as well as a tailored newsletter that will keep you informed of all these opportunities.

Contact the Student Success team

If you would like more information or to have a chat about how we may be able to support you please email studentsuccess@herts.ac.uk.