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Mohammed and his family are asylum seekers in the UK. Before arriving at the University, he qualified with a Sixth Form Baccalaureate certificate and a foundation year in Biomedical Science. 

However, the family’s circumstances changed due to their status as asylum seekers. They found themselves with no financial recourse after having to leave their country. The Home Office moved Mohammed and his family into emergency hotel accommodation under section 98 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. With his asylum claim ongoing, Mohammed also applied for Section 95 subsistence support from the UK Government along with section 98 emergency support, which would have provided him with a weekly payment of £40.85 to cover food and other costs.

Mohammed said: “After two months of waiting, I was sure that the section 95 financial support was about to be approved. But to keep receiving emergency section 98 support, I had to stay in the hotel. Stay in the hotel and do nothing. But I couldn’t bear the thought of just wasting my days watching TV in a hotel room. I was desperate to continue with my studies”.

Mohammed started to research his options, and learnt that if he applied for a Sanctuary Scholarship, there was a chance that he would be able to resume his education. The Sanctuary Scholarship covers the recipient’s undergraduate tuition fees as well as providing ongoing personal and financial support.

Mohammed was initially attracted to the 91�պ�AV because of its reputation for teaching in biomedical sciences, and was excited when he discovered that the University was part of the Sanctuary Scholarship scheme, which he was successful in applying for. 

However, that came at a cost: when he moved to Portsmouth, the Home Office revoked his right to section 98 emergency accommodation and cancelled his application for section 95 subsistence support, meaning that Mohammed had to rely on the support provided by the Sanctuary Scholarship alone. 

Mohammed contacted friends to ask for help, and fortunately an acquaintance allowed him to temporarily stay with him in his flat in Portsmouth until he was allocated a place in university accommodation.

Although Mohammed finds himself in an incredibly difficult set of circumstances, he says that the support he receives from the University helps take a lot of the stress away. Arriving late, he had to quickly catch up on the first four weeks of term, but support received from his personal tutor and regular contact with the Chair of Portsmouth's University of Sanctuary Working Group helped him to settle in. He has also received English language support, helping him to improve his academic English skills.

Mohammed is optimistic about being able to complete his undergraduate study here in Portsmouth, and has ambitions to continue his studies in Biochemical Sciences at postgraduate level, specialising in atherosclerosis research - the buildup of cholesterol plaque in the arteries - which causes cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.

“These types of diseases are silent killers,” Mohammed said. “There have been lots of studies into the development of atherosclerosis, and of course you can use medications such as statins to help prevent or manage it, but my ambition is to contribute research into the reversal of atherosclerosis, which right now can’t be done.

“And with advances in areas such as stem cell research, tissue engineering and bioprinting, I’m really excited about what the future holds for this area of biomedical science.”

Mohammed offers advice for other students going through a similar situation. “Surround yourself with positive influences - people who’ll be able to support you and help you to maintain a positive mindset when things get tough. You’ll face challenges and setbacks, but you should never give up.

“I also think it’s important to have a plan. When I applied for the Sanctuary Scholarship, I made sure to familiarise myself with my degree and subject area. I also worked hard on improving my academic English. When I was writing my scholarship application, I tried to ensure that my personality was reflected in my writing, to show my genuine feelings and motivations.

“Finally, I would say that if you don’t know something, always ask for advice. You should never be embarrassed to ask for help”.

Thanks to the hard work of many dedicated staff and students, we strive to make the University a welcoming and safe place for all, including refugees and asylum seekers. Find out about the support you can get if you're seeking sanctuary on our Support for people seeking sanctuary webpage.