University of Sanctuary

The University of Sussex has a proud and radical tradition of providing sanctuary for academics and students, and is committed to making the University a welcoming and safe place for forced migrants and asylum seekers.

University of Sanctuary status

The University of Sussex is an official University of Sanctuary, after being awarded the status in 2020. This recognises our commitment to promoting a culture of welcome, safety and inclusion across our campuses and their wider communities, as well as commitment to the City of Sanctuary Charter.

Universities of Sanctuary are part of the UK’s City of Sanctuary initiative to ensure our nation is a welcoming place of safety for all.

An agenda for change

The University of Sanctuary team will use the University of Sanctuary status to:

• further develop our support for forced migrants
• provide a focal point for research and teaching on asylum and migration
• work with other Universities of Sanctuary across the UK and beyond
• coordinate services and support
• work across the University, with STAR and with service-providers and advocates in Brighton & Hove to fully and effectively recognise the rights and needs of asylum seekers and refugees.

Our history and values

University of Sussex staff and students have a long history of supporting those seeking sanctuary and raising awareness of their needs, including through our research, community engagement, and campaigning activities.

Sussex was the first British university to offer Mandela Scholarships. In a pioneering effort to counter the injustice of apartheid and raise the profile of Mandela’s struggle for freedom, students at Sussex founded the scholarship in 1973.

---

---

---

You might also be interested in:

• our courses
• our visas and immigration guidance for students
• Sussex Centre for Migration Research.