UCL fails to follow in the footsteps of three other London universities in joining the Mosaik Scholarship scheme.
Earlier this year, the UK government changed visa policies for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan by putting them on a visa brake. Effectively, the Visas and Immigration Office automatically refuses visa applications to the UK for anyone whose derives from those nations.
The Mosaik Scholarship is combating these new restrictions by offering postgraduate support and online master’s programmes to students from the aforementioned countries. The initiative is seeking for universities to provide more degree programmes for these budding postgraduates.
Chief Executive of Mosaik Education, Ben Webster said, “For students in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan and Cameroon, a UK scholarship was one of very few viable ways to continue an education that conflict had already disrupted once.”
The nine listed universities where Mosaik Scholars can enroll are: University of Leicester, King’s College London, University of London, University of Northampton, University of St Andrews, Cardiff University, Birkbeck University of London, University of Salford, and Aberystwyth University.
UCL does offer the Humanitarian Scholarship, which is aimed to “enable students at serious risk and/or displaced due to armed conflict to pursue full-time Masters degree studies at UCL”.
However, UCL’s scholarship is unable to assist students from the four affected countries, with the University noting, “We are unable to provide any further guidance” beyond provided government guidelines. Thus, significantly limiting the opportunity for Afghans, Burmese, Sudanese, and Cameroonian students who wish to pursue a postgraduate degree affiliated with the University.
A UCL spokesperson said:
"We recognise the significant impact these visa changes have had on talented students from the four affected countries, who have worked so hard to achieve academic excellence and secure places at UCL. This has caused tremendous uncertainty and we are committed to supporting affected students, as best we can.
"We will keep current offers open for students who request this, in line with our published enrolment guidance, allowing them to enrol should visa conditions change.
"At UCL, we are immensely proud of our thriving and diverse international student community, who bring far-reaching social, cultural and economic benefits to wider society and graduate with a profound connection to the UK."