Press release
Alumni support for Afghan students
Published on 16 November 2021
The University of Dundee’s global alumni network is helping to support students from Afghanistan who have come to study at the institution against the backdrop of tumultuous events in their homeland.
The University of Dundee’s global alumni network is helping to support students from Afghanistan who have come to study at the institution against the backdrop of tumultuous events in their homeland.
The University’s Development and Alumni Relations team have released £10,000 of donations from Dundee graduates to provide support for Afghan students and ensure that finances are not a barrier to accessing higher education.
Examples of support given to date include a living cost stipend to an Afghan student unable to access their funds since the Taliban’s takeover and free legal support to enable another student to explore their immigration options as they were unable to return to Afghanistan at the end of their course.
Wendy Alexander, Vice Principal (International) at the University, said, “The plight of our Afghan students has required us to develop support packages that meet their specific needs.
“The Taliban takeover means many Afghan students already in the UK could not return home, many are having to apply for a new immigration status, others have had their bank accounts frozen and their means of support disrupted. We have sought to respond compassionately.”
The University already offers several support packages for students who hold refugee or humanitarian protection status.
Humanitarian Scholarships cover full tuition and living expenses and are now available for six eligible undergraduate, Masters and PhD applicants each year. Those who have previously won places to study as Humanitarian Scholars at Dundee come from countries including Occupied Palestinian Territory, Egypt, Syria and Jordan.
Other initiatives include free legal support for anyone who is legally stateless, while locally settled refugees can also access free pre-sessional English language courses. The University’s Student Funding Team also work with the local authority to increase the number of young refugees and asylum seekers in the city going on to higher education as part of the Scottish Government’s New Scots initiative.