Six new students who are asylum seekers from around the world have found sanctuary in Sheffield this year, thanks to scholarships provided by the University of Sheffield.
The students, from countries including Syria, Iran and Sri Lanka, have made Sheffield their home after being forced to flee their own countries due to war or persecution. The University has provided fully-funded scholarships for four undergraduate and two postgraduate students.
The scholarships have been partly funded by the University’s Big Walk fundraising events, which took place over the summer. Dozens of staff and students were joined by hundreds of Sheffield residents on the walks, which included a week-long coast-to-coast challenge and the Sheffield Walk for Refugees. Together with other fundraising activities across the University, these events raised over £50,000.
Professor Sir Keith Burnett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, said: “This year the world has seen the biggest displacement of people since the Second World War.
Thousands of refugees are currently making the long walk from countries where they fear for their lives to places they hope to build a new life for them and their families.
“I’m proud that our staff, students, and the people of Sheffield have got behind our efforts to provide a place of sanctuary here in Sheffield for some of these people. We want our University to be a safe place for students and academics to rebuild their lives and go on to make a difference to the world through their studies and research.”