Education

Education is a basic human right.

Education protects and empowers refugees by giving them the knowledge and skills to live productive, fulfilling, and independent lives. It also enlightens them, enabling them to learn about themselves and the world while striving to rebuild their lives and communities.

Whether you can access different levels of education in your country of asylum, ultimately depends on the type of legal status you are granted and the national rules and legislation.

To understand your rights, visit the Help website of the country you are currently living in.

Do refugees and asylum seekers have the right to study?

Many international instruments and frameworks recognize the right to access education at all levels, including for refugees.

Including children and youth in national systems can be considered an international obligation and the Sustainable Development Goal 4−Education has reaffirmed that commitment.

SDG4 is a commitment to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”

Inclusion means emphasis on securing access to all types and levels of education, health care and employment at all skill levels.

To understand your rights and find out how to access education visit the Help website of the country you currently live in.

Refugees can also access higher education in many countries of asylum (see more below).

Are there higher education opportunities and scholarships for refugees?

Refugees can access higher education in many countries of asylum and some opportunities are available to study in countries other than where they are currently.

The UNHCR’s Opportunities site helps you find accredited higher education academic or scholarship programmes verified by UNHCR to pursue advanced study, skills and professional development in and outside the country where you sought asylum.

The Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI) provides scholarships for refugee students to access higher education programmes in their country of asylum.

Can I study at a higher education institution in my country of asylum?

Refugees and asylum seekers can access higher education in many countries of asylum.

Visit the Help website of the country you currently live in to:

  • Understand your rights there and find out how to access education
  • find out more about UNHCR’s work
  • Find out which are higher education institutions or partner organisations in the country where you are located,
  • Contact us to obtain information about other opportunities that may be available.

Visit the UNHCR’s Opportunities site to:

  • find accredited higher education academic or scholarship programmes verified by UNHCR
  • filter information to your search criteria and areas of interest
  • learn more about re-occurring programs, and
  • identify new opportunities as they become available.

The UNHCR’s Opportunities site will progressively house more information on higher education programmes and scholarship opportunities for refugees to access higher education in the country of asylum.

Can I study in a country other than my country of asylum?

A variety of options to study in a country other than your country of asylum exist.

UNHCR’s Opportunities site includes many scholarship opportunities to study in countries that meet refugee’s basic protection needs, namely, prevention of refoulement and access to international protection.

Some programmes also provide more comprehensive support for refugee students to ensure their success.

It is crucial that you consider those aspects of a higher education programme in another country that may impact your safety and your success in the programme. Read more information about this on Opportunitie’s frequently asked questions.

You will also need a travel document to access an opportunity in another country. Visit our travel documents page for more information.

Some countries may also require a refugee to obtain an exit permit when leaving the country. It is important to check the information about travel formalities in the country where you reside.

Visit the Help website of the country you currently live in to learn the rules that apply to your case.

See also