Oxford skyline with view of Radcliffe Camera and the University Church

Oxford University has received the University of Sanctuary award (University of Oxford Images / John Cairns Photography).

Published

11 May 2023

Oxford University awarded University of Sanctuary status

Oxford University has received the University of Sanctuary award in recognition of its sustained commitment to being a place of welcome for people who have been forcibly displaced around the world.

The status recognises Oxford’s continued determination and initiatives to aid sanctuary seekers, whether they be students, staff or members of the local community.

Universities of Sanctuary make up a national network which collectively strives to make higher education institutions places of safety, solidarity and empowerment for people seeking sanctuary.

Oxford University and its colleges have a long-standing history of being a place of safety. Support for individuals with lived experience of displacement includes the welcome for refugee academics during the Second World War and the recent assistance provided to students and academics affected by the war in Ukraine.

The University's dedicated Refugee Studies Centre was established in 1982 and undertakes research, teaching, and outreach relating to all aspects of forced displacement.

Read the full details about Oxford's Sanctuary status on the University of Oxford website.