Access to Higher Education for young asylum seekers and refugees. Emily Bowerman

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1 Access to Higher Education for young asylum seekers and refugees Emily Bowerman

2 What we do Essential education support: 1:1 educational mentoring schemes and the provision of targeted support work, advice and information. Access to Higher Education: supporting young people who struggle to get to university because of their immigration status. Youth on the Move: supporting young people who face forcible removal to their country of origin

3 Session aims and objectives Understand the differences between basic forms of immigration status Understand the difficulties young refugees and asylum seekers have accessing, remaining and progressing in education, particularly HE Understand what young refugees and asylum seekers are entitled to: fees and student support Grow in ability to meet the support needs of young refugees and asylum seekers seeking to access HE

4 How confident do you feel already? Very confident Very unsure

5 Access to HE for young people from asylumseeking backgrounds: why does it matter? Comes amid fears that many foreigners are abusing study visas to work here Missing Nida Ul-Naseer, 18, vanished after university asylum row Taxpayers' 10,000 bill to teach failed asylum seeker to fly

6 Session aims and objectives Understand the differences between basic forms of immigration status Understand the difficulties young refugees and asylum seekers have accessing, remaining and progressing in education, particularly HE Understand what young refugees and asylum seekers are entitled to: fees and student support Grow in ability to meet the support needs of young refugees and asylum seekers seeking to access HE

7 Understanding immigration: defining the terms Refugee Asylum seeker Immigrant Unaccompanied minor Survivor of trafficking

8 Session aims and objectives Understand the differences between basic forms of immigration status Understand the difficulties young refugees and asylum seekers have accessing, remaining and progressing in education, particularly HE Understand what young refugees and asylum seekers are entitled to: fees and student support Grow in ability to meet the support needs of young refugees and asylum seekers seeking to access HE

9 Students seeking protection: the value of education Educational aspirations: wanting to make something of their lives A normalising routine Making sense of a new life Reassurance of making the most of safety Structured purpose for daily life Education as part of a durable solution: equipping for multiple futures

10 What barriers do young people with these immigration statuses face in accessing, remaining and progressing in education?

11 Barriers to accessing, remaining and progressing in education (1) Mid-term/year arrival or late enrolment Waiting for a place at all levels Language level not being able to study what they want and communication problems at all levels when interacting with the system Not understanding the system Frustration at rate of progress Unrealistic expectations/squashed potential

12 Barriers to accessing, remaining and progressing in education (2) Social isolation and bullying Vulnerability to exploitation Distracting issues housing, case, benefits, social workers, solicitors etc High absence rate lots of appointments, not sleeping etc Emotional difficulties Financial difficulties

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14 Barriers preventing access to HE Tuition fee status: home or international Rising fees Eligibility for financial support Immigration controls Advice: inadequate, inaccessible, inaccurate Lower-level English language ability

15 Session aims and objectives Understand the differences between basic forms of immigration status Understand the difficulties young refugees and asylum seekers have accessing, remaining and progressing in education, particularly HE Understand what young refugees and asylum seekers are entitled to: fees and student support Grow in ability to meet the support needs of young refugees and asylum seekers seeking to access HE

16 Immigration status and university Refugee Status Discretionary Leave to Remain (DLR) Humanitarian Protection (HP) Asylum Seeker Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) International Student EU

17 Immigration status and paying for university Student Finance Home fees/international fees Work

18 Refugee Status Are people with Refugee Status considered home students? Yes Are people with Refugee Status eligible for Student Finance? Yes Do people with Refugee Status have permission to work? Yes

19 Asylum Seekers Are asylum seekers considered home students? No (they are international ) Are asylum seekers eligible for Student Finance? No Do asylum seekers have permission to work? No

20 Humanitarian Protection (HP) Are people with HP considered home students? Yes Are people with HP eligible for Student Finance? Yes, but only after being in the UK for 3 years Do people with HP have permission to work? Yes

21 Discretionary Leave to Remain (DLR) Are people with DLR considered home students? No (they are international ) Are people with DLR eligible for Student Finance? No Do people with DLR have permission to work? Yes

22 Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) (without Refugee Status) Are people with ILR considered home students? Yes, but only after being in the UK for 3 years Are people with ILR eligible for Student Finance? Yes, but only after being in the UK for 3 years Do people with ILR have permission to work? Yes

23 What can we remember?

24 Answers Refugee Status Home fees Student Finance Can Work Asylum Seeker International fees No Student Finance Can apply to work only after 12 months Discretionary Leave to Remain: International Fees No Student Finance Can Work Indefinite Leave to Remain Home Fees (3 years residence) Student Finance (3 years residence) Can Work Humanitarian Protection Home Fees Student Finance (3 years residence) Can Work

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26 Session aims and objectives Understand the differences between basic forms of immigration status Understand the difficulties young refugees and asylum seekers have accessing, remaining and progressing in education, particularly HE Understand what young refugees and asylum seekers are entitled to: fees and student support Grow in ability to meet the support needs of young refugees and asylum seekers seeking to access HE

27 What are the challenges for you when approached by young people from asylumseeking backgrounds?

28 Helping young people to access HE Checking and understanding a young person s status and documentation Signposting young people to the right department Recognising additional support needs Appropriate signposting

29 Appropriate signposting Back to local authorities for further support and planning To universities with fee-waivers and additional support arrangements in place To RSN for a copy of Thinking Ahead to Higher Education

30 Thinking ahead and good information are essential RSN s HE Toolkit: Thinking about your future Finding out your eligibility for Student Finance Applying to universities Waiting for responses Planning where to live Getting financial support Planning to start your course Alternatives to university

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33 Getting additional support as a Equal Access university Article 26: Guide and summer event Training

34 Session review Understand the differences between basic forms of immigration status Understand the difficulties young refugees and asylum seekers have accessing, remaining and progressing in education, particularly HE Understand what young refugees and asylum seekers are entitled to: fees and student support Grow in ability to meet the support needs of young refugees and asylum seekers seeking to access HE

35 How confident do you feel now? Very confident Very unsure

36 Next steps What questions do you still have and how can you address them?

37 Evaluation forms

38 Emily Bowerman Web // Facebook // refugee.support.network