Support for students from Ukraine in UK higher education

Joe Lewis; Siobhan Wilson

Are Ukrainian students eligible to pay ‘home’ fees and receive student finance?

Students granted a visa under the Ukraine schemes are eligible for home fee status and student support if they are studying an approved course at an approved higher education provider in the UK.

Certain family members of those granted a visa under the Ukraine Schemes in England and Wales are also eligible for home fee status, tuition fee loans, and maintenance support.

For more information on eligibility for home student status, see the relevant Commons Library casework articles on:

The website of the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provides information on fees and funding and has a dedicated student advice helpline for discussing individual circumstances.

What student finance might Ukrainian students be entitled to?

Eligible students from Ukraine in the UK under the Ukraine schemes may be entitled to a range of support including free tuition, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans, grants, and/or bursaries, and additional allowances related to their individual circumstances, for example if they have a disability.

The nature and amount of student support available depends on the level of qualification a student is studying for, their personal circumstances, and the part of the UK they are studying in. Students should consult the website of the respective student finance body for where they ordinarily reside:

See also the Commons Library casework article Financial support for higher education students.

Can Ukrainian students extend their leave to remain under the Ukraine schemes?

Ukrainians with permission to be in the UK under the Ukraine schemes can apply to extend their visa for a further 18 months under the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme. Applications for the scheme will open in early 2025, ahead of the expiry dates for visas granted under the original Ukraine schemes.

Students, or prospective students, whose study would extend beyond their Ukraine scheme visa can also apply for a student visa so they can stay in the UK until the end of their course. People considering this should consult their university’s international student advisers or a qualified immigration lawyer.

Usually, someone applying for leave to remain as a student may mean such persons become liable to pay international tuition fees and lose access to student support. In England, however, the Government has confirmed students who start a course, and who are granted some kind of further leave to remain when their Ukraine scheme leave expires (such as a student visa), will retain their eligibility for home fee status and student support for the duration of their course.

While visas through the Ukraine schemes are free, a student visa currently costs £490, applicants must pay the healthcare surcharge, and successful applicants have restricted rights to work in the UK and no recourse to public funds. A visa under the Ukraine schemes does not have these additional restrictions.

Switching to a student visa may allow students to subsequently qualify for a Graduate visa, although a Graduate visa does not lead to permanent residence.

What university scholarships and hardship funds are available?

The Student Action for Refugees (STAR) group has a list of over 80 universities in the UK that offer scholarships for students who are seeking asylum or are from a refugee background. Some of these may be open to Ukrainian nationals previously studying in Ukraine. See also the STAR page Information for students affected by the invasion of Ukraine.

Many higher education providers have set up scholarships for new students from Ukraine and hardship funds for students affected by the Ukraine war. Students should contact their university’s student advice/welfare service, which can advise on a range of issues including housing, benefits, and money.

Is there support for Ukrainian students continuing courses online from the UK?

Ukrainian students studying at Ukrainian institutions remotely from the UK are not eligible for student finance. This reflects the rule that most British students similarly cannot access maintenance support when studying by distance learning in the UK. Like their peers at UK universities, Ukrainians studying remotely cannot claim Universal Credit unless they are studying part time or meet the exemption criteria.

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has raised concerns with the Department for Work and Pensions about the number of Ukrainian students continuing courses remotely with limited assistance. In November 2022, it said it was aware of Jobcentre Plus offices “in some cases applying ‘work-arounds’ such as treating courses as part-time.”

The Department for Education has said students should speak with their university in Ukraine to understand what support might be available to them for continuing their studies, such as through the UK twinning programme (see below for more information).

Are Ukrainian students eligible for benefits?

Most full-time students are not eligible to claim Universal Credit, but there are some exceptions. Students may qualify for disability-related benefits and financial support.

Students who want to check what benefit support they may be eligible for should seek advice from a professional welfare specialist. Welfare rights advisers can be found using the postcode finder on the Advice Local website.

If students are having problems claiming Universal Credit, they can contact the confidential Citizens Advice Help to Claim service.

What support has the Government made available to universities?

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Office for Students, which regulates higher education in England, has distributed over £4 million to support English higher education providers. Providers can use this funding to support Ukrainian nationals and Ukrainian-domiciled students who have been financially affected by events in Ukraine.

The UK Government has also announced a series of measures to support Ukraine’s science & technology and research sectors, and backed the Researchers at Risk Fellowship scheme, which was launched in spring 2022 by the British Academy and the Council for at-Risk Academics.

What is the UK-Ukraine Twinning Initiative?

Backed by the UK Government, Universities UK International and Cormack Consultancy Group have established a “twinning” programme whereby UK universities partner directly with Ukrainian institutions for a minimum of five years.

A Universities UK press release sets out the scope of the scheme (updated 30 July 2024). It includes:

Mutually recognising course credits so English-speaking Ukrainian students can take online courses from UK universities that count towards their final degree.
Sharing mental health support, particularly for Ukrainian staff and students suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the conflict.
Allowing Ukrainian students to ‘catch-up’ on the learning they have missed at summer schools hosted in UK institutions.

More information is available on the Twinning Ukraine website, including a full list of Ukraine-United Kingdom partnerships.

What wellbeing support is available?

The following organisations offer free mental health and well-being support:

Student Minds has information about support programmes and services that may be available to students at university.
Young Minds has resources to support students and their mental health. Support can be accessed 24 hours a day via the SHOUT text helpline.
Opora helps Ukrainians to resettle in the UK and includes online mental health resources as well as signposting to other help.
The Havering, Barking and Dagenham branch of the mental health charity Mind has published a list of mental health and wellbeing support for Ukrainian refugees.
Amna is a charity that provides psychosocial support to refugees and displaced communities. It offers group therapy and a youth empowerment programme.

The Barnardo’s Ukrainian Support Helpline can also provide access to therapy with qualified psychotherapists.

Are Ukrainian qualifications recognised in the UK?

Higher education providers are autonomous bodies responsible for their admissions policies, but the Department for Education has told providers to be “as flexible as possible” when considering the applications of Ukrainian students.

The UK European Network for Information (ENIC) offers a ‘Statement Of Comparability’ for people who need to confirm the level of their overseas qualifications for employment, study, professional registration, or another reason. Individuals and organisations can apply online for a Statement of Comparability through the UK ENIC portal.

There is a charge to individuals for a Statement of Comparability, but reduced-price bundles are available for charities supporting refugees, including refugees from Ukraine. Individuals or organisations should contact UK ENIC at bundles@enic.org.uk or refugee@ecctis.com for more information on how these work and what charities are included.