Goldsmiths International Response Scholarship (University of London)

By

The International Response Scholarship is a financial award offered by Goldsmiths, University of London. Its purpose is to support refugees or asylum seekers in the UK who wish to study (either undergraduate or taught postgraduate) but face financial barriers. The scholarship is part of Goldsmiths’ commitment to widening participation and helping students in difficult circumstances.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you need to satisfy several conditions:

  • You must have refugee status in the UK, or have an active application for asylum in the UK.
  • You must hold an offer of study (undergraduate or taught postgraduate) at Goldsmiths.
  • Be eligible to study in the UK. If you are on Immigration Bail, there must not be a condition that prohibits you from studying.
  • Applicants from Ukraine seeking refuge under the special Home Office arrangement will be considered under this scheme.
  • You must apply by the deadline, and upload required supporting documentation (for example proof of status via UK Home Office, etc.) via your MyGoldsmiths account.

Also, note:

  • It is for new students; those who are already enrolled in a Goldsmiths programme generally are not eligible.
  • The scholarship is just for full-time, on-campus taught programmes. Some distance-learning or online programmes (e.g. via University of London external) may be excluded.

What the Scholarship Covers

If awarded, this scholarship provides a substantial financial aid package including:

  • A full tuition fee waiver for each year of study. So the cost of tuition is covered.
  • Allowance of £8,825 to help with living and other expenses.
  • Accommodation in Goldsmiths halls of residence: single study bedroom, up to £200 per week.

Number of awards: up to 4 total (2 for undergraduates, 2 for postgraduate taught) in the 2025 cycle. (Goldsmiths, University of London)

How to Apply

Here’s the typical application process:

  1. Secure an offer from Goldsmiths for an undergraduate or taught postgraduate degree. Accept the offer or confirm it.
  2. Create a MyGoldsmiths account (if you don’t have one already). This is required to submit supporting documents & the scholarship application.
  3. Prepare documentation: proof of refugee status or active asylum application in the UK; any other documents Goldsmiths requires (academic transcripts, personal statement). Upload proof via the MyGoldsmiths portal.
  4. Submit the scholarship application form when it opens.
  5. If you wish to live in Goldsmiths halls, apply separately for accommodation and in the notes, indicate you are applying for the International Response Scholarship.
  6. Selection process: After verifying basic eligibility, applications go to a panel consisting of representatives (Admissions, Widening Participation, Immigration Advisory) who assess both academic record and your responses to the scholarship application questions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

From the criteria and others’ experiences, some pitfalls applicants often fall into:

  • Missing or incomplete documentation for refugee/asylum status: if you cannot provide proof or proper documents, your application may be rejected even if the rest of your profile is strong.
  • Not holding an offer or not having accepted it: you need the offer in place first.
  • Not checking study eligibility: if on immigration bail, or if there are restrictions, make sure none are preventing you from enrolling / studying.
  • Late application: missing the deadline for either the scholarship form or accommodation.
  • Assuming high standard of writing matters more than content: The panel considers content and relevance more than polish. So focus on meaningful answers.
  • Overlooking separate accommodation process: Since accommodation is separate, forgetting to apply for halls/residences can mean missing that benefit.
  • Lack of clarity in your personal responses: Because many applicants may have difficult backgrounds, what often makes the difference is clarity in motivation, how study matters for your goals, how you’ve overcome obstacles, etc.

Relatable Examples

Here are a few illustrative hypothetical situations (based on what the criteria are) to show how someone might fit in, or what to do well.

  • Example A: Refugee student in the UK
    “Amir” fled conflict zones, now has refugee status. He’s been accepted onto a BA in Sociology at Goldsmiths. He completes his MyGoldsmiths account, uploads his official Home Office documents proving his status. In his scholarship application answers, he speaks of how education will empower him to contribute to refugee communities and rebuild aspects of his community. He also expresses need clearly. If selected, he gets tuition waiver, accommodation, and the allowance.
  • Example B: Asylum seeker awaiting decision
    “Maria” has an active asylum application. She has been offered a Master’s in Media & Communications at Goldsmiths. She applies for the scholarship, supplies the asylum evidence (pending application), shows her academic track record, explains how the masters will help her future, maybe in helping asylum seekers or in community work. She also applies for halls accommodation, notes in her accommodation application that she is applying for the International Response Scholarship.
  • Example C: Ukrainian applicant under special UK scheme
    “Yevhen” has left Ukraine under Home Office special arrangements. He applies to a taught postgraduate degree at Goldsmiths. He provides evidence under the special arrangement, uses this in the scholarship application. His academic and extra-curricular background shows promise, and he demonstrates the benefit of studying at Goldsmiths.

Final Thoughts

The Goldsmiths International Response Scholarship is a strong opportunity for displaced, refugee, or asylum-seeking students in the UK to access high quality education with financial barriers removed. It provides not just tuition relief, but also accommodation and living support — covering many of the areas where students in such circumstances typically struggle.

Some key takeaways:

  • Because this is targeted, competition might still be tough; even among eligible applicants, standing out in your application is essential.
  • Ground your application in your story, your aspirations, why this study matters for you and others.
  • Ensure documentation is complete and submitted properly.
  • Don’t underestimate the ancillary steps (accommodation application, notes, etc.) — missing those could mean losing parts of the support.
  • For those who don’t succeed this time, explore alternative scholarships, bursaries, or emergency funding. Many universities and NGOs have support for refugee/asylum status students.

Similar Posts