University of Leeds was officially presented with its University of Sanctuary status during a special ceremony on 7 July 2025.
Sanctuary status recognises the University of Leeds’ ongoing commitment to ‘help shape a better future for humanity, working through collaboration to tackle inequalities, achieve societal impact and drive change’ – one of the key strands of the University’s strategy.
Shared Values
Ian Kemp, who was part of the Leeds City of Sanctuary panel that assessed the University of Leeds’ application, and a former undergraduate at the University, said:
“I’m delighted to be here to congratulate an institution, which I have a close affinity to, having studied here myself. A significant amount of work has been undertaken by the University. It’s got an excellent Sanctuary Scholars programme, and it’s great to see such a dynamic effort involving lots of people, with staff and students becoming more and more engaged.
“It’s also vital for the City of Sanctuary that we have these connections across Leeds. We live in a vibrant city, with 26.6% of the population from migrant backgrounds representing 217 ethnic groups. It’s only right, therefore, that the University and the wider city should be at the vanguard of work to support refugees and asylum seekers.”
Achieving Sanctuary status visibly signals the University’s commitment to supporting displaced communities within the UK and beyond, and ensures this continues on to build on sanctuary activity, whilst learning from – and contributing to – good practice across the country.
The University’s activities in this area are diverse, spanning education, research and outreach. A key part of this, is providing access to higher education for those seeking sanctuary. Since 2018, the University has awarded 31 scholarships at undergraduate and postgraduate level to scholars from multiple humanitarian-affected countries of origin, the most recent of which is Gaza, with specific scholarships for those affected by the conflict. All scholars are supported throughout their time at Leeds, through the
Plus Programme and their school. That process continues, with efforts currently underway to welcome three more Sanctuary Scholars from this region.
The University has also supported the work of the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA) for several years, hosting PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, experienced academics and researchers with fellowships. They all provide valuable contributions to university life, bringing new perspectives, driving research and enriching academic discussions.
You can read about the impact of the University’s Sanctuary work on University granted Sanctuary status University of Leeds, and to learn more about the great work being done at Leeds, visit their official Sanctuary webpage.