“It’s not just the opening doors”: How are diverse voices shaping refugee access to higher education?

Worldwide, only around 7% of refugees attend university, despite the financial, psychological, social, and career benefits it offers. Recognising these benefits, UNHCR has set a target of 15% of refugees accessing higher education (HE) by 2030. Drawing on interviews with participants from refugee backgrounds, universities, Further Education colleges, NGOs and local authorities, this research explores the barriers and possibilities for refugees’ access to HE in the UK, with a focus on the south-west region. Findings highlight how increasingly hostile immigration policies, rigid academic systems, and resource shortages combine to restrict access to HE, while also documenting the growing expertise and support offered within some sectors. It calls for coordinated, transformative action to remove systemic barriers and build a socially just, refugee-centred approach, including enhanced financial support, alternative entry pathways, and transparent institutional accountability. View the full report and policy briefing here.