Lancaster University students bid for refugee scholarships

The eight friends launched Red Rose Refugees, and hope a scholarship programme at the university will aid students from war-torn countries such as Syria into the university.

One of the students, Harry Heptonstall, 20, said: “We are all studying a social activism module and it started from that. We were inspired by other leading universities who have already implemented the scheme: Bristol, London School of Economics and York. We feel Lancaster is behind the times and this needs to change.”

The programme launched by York University sees tuition fees waived for three refugee students each year, as well as maintenance grants funded by philanthropic donations.

“We feel that this topic is especially prominent at the moment,” second year marketing student Harry said.

“Lancaster is a city of sanctuary and recently opened its doors to asylum seekers; we feel the university needs to replicate this!”

The students, who are mostly studying media and cultural studies and sociology, are launching a petition and also hope to raise awareness throughout the Roses weekend at the end of March.

The group is working with Lancaster University Students’ Union, who in turn are liaising with the university on the issue.

The group can be found on Twitter @RedRoseRefugees and on Facebook.