Support
We are here to support you if you have been affected by recent global events.
Read this article in Ukrainian
Wellbeing support
You can access a range of face-to-face support through the University Chaplaincy and counselling services:
- Chaplaincy website
- Staff Counselling Service: offering appointments in person, by telephone and by video call
- Student Counselling Service: offering support in person, by telephone, email and by video call. You can also access same-day appointments. These 20 minute appointments will offer a brief helpful conversation and look at the next best steps you can take
- Student Wellbeing Service
To find out about all of the wellbeing services available to you at the University, please visit:
Immigration and visa support for Ukrainian nationals
| Ukrainian citizens in need of free legal advice on UK immigration, visas and asylum from qualified and regulated lawyers can contact Ukraine Advice Project UK: | Free UK immigration advice for Ukrainians |
| Temporary visa concessions have been introduced for family members of Ukrainian nationals, and British nationals who usually live in Ukraine: | Temporary visa concessions |
| Information on concessions to immigration rules for Ukrainian nationals on work and study routes can be found on the UK Government website: | Temporary visa concessions for Ukrainian nationals on work and study routes |
| UK Government travel advice: | Foreign travel advice - Ukraine |
| The UK Government has announced further plans to support Ukrainian nationals with extended family members of British nationals to come to the UK: | Further support for Ukrainian’s fleeing Russia invasion |
Financial support
Students from Ukraine or Russia who are impacted financially may apply for hardship funding. Applications will be prioritised for assessment and payment, and will recognise any difficulties you may have in providing the required documentation. Please note that funding can only be paid into a UK bank account.
Scottish Government support for tuition and living costs
The Scottish Government has announced that new and transfer students displaced from Ukraine and settling in Scotland may be eligible for free tuition and living cost support in the academic year 2022-23, if they have already submitted an application for one of the following:
- Home for Ukraine Scheme
- Ukraine Family Scheme
- Ukraine Extension Scheme
Undergraduate applicants:
Any Ukrainian national domiciled in Scotland will be eligible to apply for Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) funding:
Undergraduate applicants for 2022-23
If you are resident in the rest of the UK (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) you can contact our Student Finance team for advice:
Postgraduate applicants:
Any Ukrainian national who meets the new eligibility conditions will be eligible for the existing postgraduate package from Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS):
Postgraduate applicants for 2022-23
If you are resident in the rest of the UK (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) you can contact our Student Finance team for advice:
International Students’ Emergency Fund:
Existing Ukrainian students who have previously started courses in Scotland and who are experiencing hardship will be eligible to apply for financial assistance through the Scottish Government’s newly created £1 million International Students’ Emergency Fund.
Further details will be made available by the Scottish Government in May:
Free tuition for displaced Ukrainian students | Scottish Government
Support for applicants
For guidance on applying for a degree programme or transfer request at the University of Edinburgh, please visit the webpage below:
Support for Ukrainian applicants
Study support
If you are worried that your studies may be impacted by the ongoing events, please contact your School's Student Support team or your personal tutor to discuss coursework extensions and special circumstances.
Supporting each other
This is a highly distressing time for all of us and we encourage our students and staff to come together and support each other, as we look to the future with hope for peace.
A message from the University Chaplain
We are proud of being one of the world’s most international universities and recognise our responsibility to our diverse community and partners around the world. We are committed to peaceful co-operation, mutual understanding and tolerance across borders.
Respect for our community
Harassment, aggression or abuse of any member of our University community is never acceptable.
If you have been affected, you should tell someone and seek support:
Staff:
Students:
- Student Support teams, personal tutors and supervisors
- Residence Life (if you are in University accommodation)
- The Students’ Association Advice Place
Any conversations will be handled with due care and confidentiality, and our staff will work with you to find the appropriate means of safety and redress.
Our Scholars
We are committed to supporting academic colleagues and will work with the Council for At-Risk Academics, as we recently did to support Afghan and Yemeni scholars. We are also working with Una Europa to support Ukrainian scholars and fellows to access higher education across our alliance.
Supporting the local Edinburgh community
We are liaising with our civic partners at the City of Edinburgh Council to explore how we can best support the Ukrainian community at this time. The city of Edinburgh is twinned with Kyiv, and we stand ready to provide whatever support we can. We will work with the Home Office, UUK and others to ensure a secure and welcoming environment for refugees and asylum seekers.
Further advice on how you can support communities, both locally and further afield, who are affected by the invasion of Ukraine can be found on the SharePoint site below:
Helping communities affected by the invasion of Ukraine (staff-only SharePoint site)