This list of Warm Welcome Scholarship Scheme frequently asked questions has been compiled for higher education providers.
This FAQ page will be expanded with further questions and answers so please bookmark this page and check back for updates.
Last updated: 10 June 2022
1. Q – Do applicants need to be in the UK by a certain date to be eligible?
A – Candidates must be residing in the UK at the point of application to the HEP
2. Q – Are Afghan asylum seekers in the UK eligible to apply for this scholarship?
A – DfE have confirmed that those with current asylum status are not eligible for the Warm Welcome scholarships, however, they may be eligible for in-year scholars providing they meet the eligibility criteria.
Q – How many types of undergraduate, taught master’s and PhD scholarships are you asking HEPs to commit to?
A - While there is no minimum number of awards fixed, HEPs are asked to consider waiving fees for a total of at least six years of study (or at least three years in the case of small or specialist HEPs). We are keen to ensure that the scholarship offers available cover opportunities at all levels of study. The following distributions are suggested as examples, but not limited to:
- At least two PhD places
- At least three taught master's places plus at least one of either a PhD or an undergraduate place
- At least two undergraduate places
3. Q - Do HEPs have to specify the course subjects on offer?
A - No, you don’t need to specify subject areas, though you may to help you manage demand on your own side.
4. Do the same set of scholarships need to be available to both current students and students joining in September?
A – No, it is up to the HEP how many in-year scholarships they would want to make available. However, a maximum of 100 scholarships overall will be awarded to eligible scholars who are currently studying in the UK.
For full-degree scholarships around 200 scholarships overall will be awarded to eligible scholars who will begin their studies in September/October 2022
A total cap on all scholarship awards has been set at 300, which will be allocated to ensure a fair balance across all educational levels.
5. Q – Is there any flexibility to move the types of courses on offer around, following the EOI? For example, for HEPs that run a limited number of PhD courses, could they reallocate it to postgraduate taught, if there weren’t any PhD applications? Or would that particular scholarship go unused?
A – We would prefer HEPs to commit to a specific number of scholarships available by course level, but we can manage some flexibility. In this instance, HEPs are asked to indicate that they can offer a specific number of scholarships at each level, and then to indicate that they would like flexibility to consider the awards based on applications.
6. Q – What do you foresee for scholars who aren't successful in being chosen for a stipend scholarship?
A – There is no provision in the Warm Welcome Scheme for scholars who are not successful
7. Q – Would the current year tuition fees need to be refunded to the student? or just waived for the following years?
A – If the student has already paid their fees for the current academic year, the HEP is not required to refund the tuition fees. The HEP would waive fees for the following years.
8. Q - Will the applicants be asked to offer proof that they are eligible? How will they demonstrate this?
A – We have had confirmation from Department of Education on the documentation that candidates should be expected to hold in order to be able to demonstrate eligibility.
| Candidates eligible via the ARAP and ACRS resettlement routes |
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| Those with links to Afghanistan who are already registered at a UK university |
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| Candidates eligible as Afghan British Nationals |
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9. Q - Are there metrics in place to review financial eligibility? How are we supposed to evidence this?
A - There aren’t any specific metrics that will be provided, we are letting HEPs use their discretion. This would be for the in-year scholars primarily and they would need to evidence lost access to funds that they would otherwise have had or significant financial burdens that they have now in place to previously.
10. Q - Is the grant agreement and student terms and conditions the same for both the In-Year and Full Degree scholarship? Do we sign one Grant Agreement if participating in both?
A – Yes, they are the same for both types of scholarships. One grant agreement will be provided, an amended annex to the grant agreement will be issued if the scholarships provided increase.
11. Q - What if potential scholars cannot open a bank account in the UK?
A - We expect a bank account to be in place for when the HEPs pay the stipends to scholars. However, for in-year asylum seekers HEPs would need to only evidence that the payment had been made to the student to fulfil audit requirements.
12. Q - If a scholar has an application which is conditional on them meeting an English exam (which they are sitting after the application deadline) - can we still put them forward as a sponsor?
A – In principle the HEP can give a conditional offer if they are confident that they would meet the required level to give them a firm offer.
13. Q - Is there flexibility on what the HEP has put forward on their EOI?
A - Yes, there is flexibility - but we would like to know if there is any change to stop guiding scholars via the participating list on the website.
14. Q – If a HEP currently has interested candidates and is preparing to give course offers, but the candidates are currently living in another country and will be resettling in the UK under ARAP scheme. Is there any flexibility with the scholarship scheme for deadlines?
A - We would expect the candidates to be residing in the UK at the point of award.
15. Q - The eligibility criteria covers ARAP and ACRS, and Afghan British Nationals - does it not extend to Afghan Nationals with visas under the provisions for locally engaged staff?
A- No, it doesn’t extend to these individuals, but if there are any changes to this advice we will let HEPs know.
16. Q - Can a candidate with a conditional offer apply and their funds disbursed if/when they proceed to complete registration?
A – Yes, this is possible.