Who are forcibly displaced students?

There are different ways to define ‘forcibly displaced students’ (FDS). Legally, a student in a UK university who has been forcibly displaced may have refugee status, limited leave to remain, humanitarian protection, or may be awaiting a decision on an asylum claim.

Charities such as City of Sanctuary use the term ‘people seeking sanctuary’ to refer to forcibly displaced people beyond immigration status. There is no single shared experience of forced displacement. Students vary significantly in their backgrounds, experiences, and current circumstances, and academic member of staff should be mindful of this diversity when offering support.

Will I know if my student is a forcibly displaced student?

Possibly. With student consent, departments are notified of undergraduates affected by forced displacement, and this may be shared with the Director of Studies, Academic Advisor, and Placement Teams. However, not all students will choose to disclose their status or circumstances to the department.

Staff are advised not to proactively raise this topic with students. If a student does disclose, you should respond with sensitivity and direct them to the appropriate support services.

What happens if a student tells me they are forcibly displaced?

If a student tells you they are forcibly displaced, your primary role is to ensure they are aware of the specialist support available. You should:

listen without judgement and acknowledge what the student has shared
direct the student to Sanctuary at Bath webpage
refer the student to the Student Retention and Success Team mailing at studentsuccess@bath.ac.uk
signpost the student to Bath Welcomes Refugees, a local community organisation offering practical and social support
always seek the student's explicit consent before sharing any information about their circumstances with colleagues or other services

You can learn more about available support, opportunities, and resources to support forcible displaced students through the following resources:

Common challenges faced by forcibly displaced students

Forcibly displaced students may face a range of challenges during their studies. Academic staff should be aware that students may be managing one or more of the following circumstances alongside their academic commitments:

attendance at immigration appointments or legal proceedings, which may affect availability for teaching, assessments or meetings
funding uncertainty, including limited access to student finance or unexpected changes to financial support.
complexities regarding accommodation arrangements
difficulties in obtaining or replacing essential documentation
adjusting to the UK higher education
mental health and wellbeing concerns arising from their experiences

While many forcibly displaced students bring significant resilience, independence and determination to their studies, the above challenges may require additional flexibility and understanding from staff.

University support for forcibly displaced students

The University of Bath holds University of Sanctuary status, reflecting its commitment to welcoming and supporting people seeking sanctuary. The Student Retention and Success Team is the primary point of contact to support forcibly displaced students and can assist with:

refugee bursaries and sanctuary scholarships
guidance on financial support and fee status
peer connection and community opportunities

Students may also be signposted to Bath STAR, a student-led organisation offering peer support and social integration activities for refugee and forcibly displaced students.

Preparing to support a forcibly displaced student

Academic Advisors are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Student Retention and Success team, who are the primary source of support for forcibly displaced students.

Your role as an academic member of staff is to listen, signpost and refer — not to provide specialist immigration, legal, financial or therapeutic advice. If a student discloses their circumstances, please clearly explain your role boundaries, confidentiality and refer them to studentsuccess@bath.ac.uk. Also, be clear about what you can assist with directly, such as academic adjustments, extensions or attendance flexibility.

Be familiar with the University's confidentiality guidelines and referral pathways relevant to student wellbeing and safeguarding, as you will need to follow it and might need to explain it to students while offering support.

Supporting without direct advising responsibility

Staff interested in supporting forcibly displaced students are encouraged to:

notify their Director of Studies or Head of Department of their interest
contact the Student Retention and Success Team at studentsuccess@bath.ac.uk to explore how they can contribute
join the Sanctuary Working Group, which coordinates the University's ongoing commitment to welcoming students seeking sanctuary

Guidance for Academic Staff Supporting Forcibly Displaced Students

This guidance is for Academic Advisors, Module Leaders, Unit Conveners and Supervisors to support Forcibly Displaced Students.