Education
Education protects and empowers people 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.
On this page:
- Primary and Secondary education
- Do refugees and asylum seekers have the right to attend primary and secondary school?
- Higher education
- Can I study at a higher education institution in my country of asylum?
- Are there scholarship opportunities available for refugees?
- Can I study in another country?
- See also
Primary and Secondary education
Do refugees and asylum seekers have the right to attend primary and secondary school?
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.
I need help with Education in:
Refugees can also access higher education in many countries of asylum (see more below).
Higher education
Can I study at a higher education institution in my country of asylum?
Refugees and asylum seekers may access higher education in many countries. Seek out opportunities to apply to and enrol at universities, institutes for technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and online degree programmes.
There may be scholarships specifically for refugee students in the country where you are located.
The Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI) provides scholarships for refugee students to access higher education programmes in their country of asylum.
The DAFI programme is a merit-based scholarship programme offered in over 50 countries. Refugee students are invited to contact the UNHCR operation in the country where they are located to learn more about the DAFI programme and application process.
Visit the Help website of the country you currently live in to:
- Understand your rights there and find out how to access higher education
- Learn about the DAFI programme and whether it is offered in the country where you are
- Find out which higher education institutions or partner organisations are in the country where you are located
- Contact us to obtain information about other opportunities that may be available.
I need help with Education in:
Are there scholarship opportunities available for refugees?
Yes! There are many scholarships offered specifically for refugees, including those interested in studying in other countries.
Visit the UNHCR’s Opportunities site to:
- Identify new opportunities as they become available.
- Find accredited higher education academic or scholarship programmes verified by UNHCR
- Filter information to your search criteria and areas of interest
- Learn more about recurring programs, and basic qualifications to
Can I study in a country other than my country of asylum?
There may be options to study in a country other than your country of asylum, sometimes referred to as ‘study abroad’ or ‘complementary education pathways’.
UNHCR’s Opportunities site includes many scholarship opportunities to study in countries that meet basic refugee protection standards 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 Opportunities’ 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.