To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department is providing to Universities on providing support and advice for Ukrainian students.
Answered on
24 March 2022
The department has been working closely with the education sector and across government to ensure that Ukrainian students in the UK are supported during this difficult time. This includes new visa options for Ukrainian nationals, including students, announced by the Home Office. These will provide them with an opportunity to extend their leave or switch to a Graduate visa without having to leave the UK.
Many higher education (HE) providers have hardship funds that students can apply to for assistance, should individuals’ finances be affected in the 2021/22 academic year. We continue to encourage providers to accept hardship applications from international students, including those from Ukraine, in the same way they did for the £85 million of additional hardship funding made available by the government last academic year to ensure support is given where it is most needed.
I reconvened the higher education (HE) taskforce, bringing together representatives from across the sector to discuss how we can work together in supporting Ukrainian students. We are encouraging HE providers to be as flexible as possible to support prospective students impacted by the situation in Ukraine. There are still many courses available through UCAS that students can apply for. We would encourage them to engage in conversations with their preferred providers to understand the full range of options available specifically to them.
The government will look to support Ukrainian students as they reassess their options in the UK.
The department recognises that the current uncertainty means that many students may experience additional mental health challenges. Protecting student and staff wellbeing is vital. It is important students continue to be able to access the mental health and wellbeing support they need.
We encourage students to stay in touch with their HE provider’s welfare teams, as these services are likely to continue to be an important source of support. Providers are not only experts in their student population, but are also best placed to identify the needs of their students.