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Information for prospective students from a refugee background, including refugee-related networks, groups and opportunities for volunteering.
UCL has a long history of conducting critical research into refugee and displacement situations around the world, and also of developing and implementing different forms of support and solidarity for refugees, migrants and people affected by conflict.
Please send the details of other UCL-wide student or staff initiatives to add to this list to e.fiddian-qasmiyeh@ucl.ac.uk.
Refugee-Related Research and Support Activities
- Refuge in a Moving World (RiMW)
UCL's interdisciplinary research network regarding displacement and conflict, drawing together academics and students from across UCL working on these complex issues around the world. For more information, and to get involved, email e.fiddian-qasmiyeh@ucl.ac.uk; follow updates and news on UCL-wide activities, events, and publications regarding refugees and forced migration on @RefugeMvingWrld.
Since 2016, Refuge in a Moving World has been coordinating UCL-wide activities in support of refugees. Following a successful Staff-Student Open Meeting in Feb. 2016 (attended by over 65 people from across UCL), a second Open Meeting took place in Oct. 2016, providing an update on the work of the Scholarships Working Group and the Access to Higher Education Working Group, and an opportunity to discuss a proposal (.pdf) submitted to UCL for the establishment of a UCL Migration Support Unit. Regular Open Meetings have been held since then.
- To get involved with the Scholarships Working Group email Andrea Rigon on andrea.rigon@ucl.ac.uk
- To work with the Access to Higher Education Working Group email Rachel Rosen on R.Rosen@ucl.ac.uk
- To support refugees' access to the UCL Undergraduate Foundation Course email Raphaela Armbruster on R.Armbruster@ucl.ac.uk
- PhD Wing of Refuge in a Moving World
The interdisciplinary PhD Wing of Refuge in a Moving World draws together PhD students from across UCL who are interested in displacement and forced migration. The group organizes interdisciplinary reading groups, seminars, talks, and public events. For more information and to join the group, email: aydan.greatrick@ucl.ac.uk, claire.fletcher.15@ucl.ac.uk or victoria.tecca.13@ucl.ac.uk.
- UCL Star
The Student Action for Refugees (STAR) society at UCL coordinates volunteering and campaigning at UCL, and promoting positive images of refugees and asylum-seekers in the UK. For more information, and to get involved follow on @UCLStar.
- UCLU Volunteering Services Unit
The UCLU Volunteering Services Unit works with a number of refugee and migrant support charities and supports student-led community projects, including as part of the UCL Global Citizenship Programme – if you are interested in volunteering and organizing student-led projects in support of refugees, see more on the UCLU website.
- Science and English Summer Outreach Course
PhD students and postdocs from the London Centre of Nanotechnology (LCN) and teachers from the UCL-Institute of Education (UCL-IOE) have run summer schools at UCL since 2018. Read more about the 2019 summer school. And, if you are interested in volunteering with future initiatives, contact Safe Khan at safe.khan.11@ucl.ac.uk.
- ReConnect to Education: Preparation for Higher Education
‘ReConnect to Education: Preparation for Higher Education’ is a programme funded by ReConnect, delivered by the UCL-IOE and supported by Computer Aid International. The programme aims to familiarise refugees with the expectations and academic conventions of British universities. Email Jay.Derrick@ucl.ac.uk for more information.
- Social justice for women migrants and refugees
Engaging, communicating and improving access to higher education (Pathways to Education) - this pilot course ran in 2018-2019, followed by the We Are Movers initiative. Email Rachel.Rosen@ucl.ac.uk for further information and to get involved.
- UCL Access and Widening Participation Office
UCL's pre-entry single point of contact for forced migrants is Beth Craigie, who is able to help with any questions potential applicants may have about applying to university and can signpost applicants to further information. You can contact Beth at elizabeth.craigie@ucl.ac.uk, and see more information on UCL's Open Access programmes.