Asylum Seekers And Higher Education!

**sara7000** · 07-01-2009, 04:05 PM

Hi there! I wanted to ask what are the rules for Asylum seekers when it cums to higher education? Ive read sumwhere that THEY MUST MEET THE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND BE ABLE TO PAY THE EXPENSES! But then i also read suwhere that uni educaton is free for asylum seekers who have been in Scotland and getting education for atleast three years. Now in confused, i mean i did my standard grades here, and now am doing highers and then by the end of sixth year, i wud have done three years so does tht mean i wont have to pay my fee if i study med in scotland? And WUd i have to pay fee, any help i mite be offered, else my dream of studying med will END cus my parents will never be able to afford it

Any advice will really be appreciated! PLUS does anyone know anyother in their uni, who has not had their immigration status settled yet. PLS PLS SUM1 ANS my questions, im really worried!

**Zedd** · 07-01-2009, 10:18 PM

I think this page more or less answers your question - Young asylum seekers

**sara7000** · 07-01-2009, 11:36 PM

Thanks, but I have seen this page before and it says "You must have made an asylum application to the Home Office before 1 December 2006." But thats not the case with me so any idea what might happen when i apply for uni? Also can anyone tell me if u need ur passport or visa proof to apply? Thnx alot

**Zedd** · 07-01-2009, 11:40 PM

When did your application for asylum take place then? Passed pointing you to the SAAC I can't really help, have you tried contacting them about this or even the home office?

**sara7000** · 08-01-2009, 04:03 PM

Well i think it was sumtime around may time in 2008, when i was doing my sg exams! We have not cotacted the home office cuz they state in all their letters not to personally contact abt personal circumstances. I am so confused cus i perfectly remmber reading that if u have studied in scotland for the last three years u r allowed to go to uni without having to pay ur fee, but then the website u have pointed out says u must have made ur appl before a certain date! Any more help will be really appreciated. Thnx!

**sara7000** · 08-01-2009, 04:04 PM

Does anyone know any asylum seekers in uni?

**Zedd** · 08-01-2009, 04:09 PM

Contact the SAAS and the Citizens Advice Bureau.

**alisonitis** · 08-01-2009, 04:17 PM

Have you tried the scottish refugee council? They usually give advice to asylum seekers about employment and education. There is a leaflet on their site - http://www.scottishrefugeecouncil.or...ts_of_Learning but I don't think it goes into the kind of detail that you need - maybe try giving them a call. If the funding situation is really bad for asylum seekers you might want to consider waiting until your status is resolved - if you get refugee status you'll have the same rights as Scottish people to free education. Also the refugee council have a refugee doctors database which is something you could get involved in if you get refugee status and stay in the UK. Good luck to you!

**sara7000** · 08-01-2009, 06:09 PM

Thnx! Even this states the date for an asylum application being in 2006, so it must be the case! How ever mine was made in 2008, now im pretty certain i wont receive any financial help, but im also worried now if i will be allowed to apply to uni or not?

**Singh.Simran** · 08-01-2009, 06:20 PM

It might be that they're saying the date for when the info was relevant - you'll be applying later on so dates move forward.

Speak to someone rather than reading something - i dont know about scotland but over here ringing the home office or the citizens advice bureaux would be useful...