The Phoenix Fellowship is a UK-registered charity, established in 2025, providing financial and mentorship support to refugees undertaking full-time degree courses in medicine or the sciences at UK universities.
Its purpose is to enable Fellows to overcome barriers to academic success and to contribute meaningfully to their chosen fields.
The maximum financial support available is £20,000 per annum. The precise amount awarded will be determined at the discretion of The Phoenix Fellowship, taking into account individual circumstances such as financial need, location, living arrangements, and other relevant factors.
As a Phoenix Fellow, you are expected to engage fully with your studies, maintain good academic standing, and comply with the conditions of your award. Following graduation, you will be encouraged to contribute to the Fellowship community by supporting and mentoring future Fellows.
Fellowships are available to students undertaking full-time professional degrees in Medicine, Dentistry, or Veterinary Medicine, or full-time undergraduate or postgraduate (i.e., master’s or doctoral level) degrees in Biomedical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, or Psychology.
Part-time or online degree courses are not eligible.
To be eligible for a Phoenix Fellowship, applicants must be a refugee, or the dependent of a refugee, as defined under UK law.
Applicants must not have reached their 35th birthday on the date of application.
If you are uncertain about your current immigration status, you are advised to consult a solicitor or, if applicable, a family member responsible for your immigration application.
Successful applicants will be required to provide documentary evidence of their current immigration status. Accepted forms of evidence include an ARC card, Biometric Residence Permit, official correspondence from the Home Office, or a letter from a solicitor.
Yes. Applications will be considered from candidates who are eligible for other sources of finance, including government loans through Student Finance or similar schemes. The Phoenix Fellowship is intended to support exceptional candidates in focusing on their academic studies without the additional burden of financial hardship.
To be able to apply for a Phoenix Fellowship, you must either (i) already be enrolled on an eligible full-time degree course at a UK university, (ii) have received and accepted an unconditional offer for such a course, or (iii) hold a conditional offer which, once the stated conditions are met, will enable you to accept the place. Fellowship awards can only be confirmed in full once enrollment or an unconditional offer has been secured.
No. The Phoenix Fellowship is only open to refugee applicants who are currently resident in the United Kingdom.
Yes. There is no restriction on holding a prior undergraduate degree. The Phoenix Fellowship supports students undertaking professional degrees in Medicine, Dentistry, or Veterinary Medicine - which are undergraduate-level professional qualifications - as well as full-time undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in Biomedical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, or Psychology.
In the case of graduate degrees, applicants will ordinarily be expected to have already completed an undergraduate degree as part of the standard admissions process.
Yes. The Phoenix Fellowship is available to students undertaking full-time postgraduate (as well as undergraduate) degrees in Biomedical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, or Psychology, as well as professional degrees in Medicine, Dentistry, or Veterinary Medicine. Fellows are free to use their financial support at their discretion to enable them to engage fully with their studies.
Yes. Holding other scholarships or financial awards does not preclude you from receiving a Phoenix Fellowship, provided you meet all other eligibility criteria including financial need. However, you must disclose all other sources of funding when applying.
Yes. Applicants who were previously unsuccessful may submit a new application. Those who were invited to reapply following their previous assessment are particularly encouraged to do so. Please note that reapplication does not guarantee the award of a Fellowship.
Yes. However, any decision to award a Phoenix Fellowship based on an unconditional offer will only be confirmed once the offer has been accepted and all stated conditions met in full.
No. The Phoenix Fellowship provides successful applicants with a monthly stipend for the duration of their award year. Fellows are free to use this support at their discretion to best enable them to fully engage with their studies, but the Fellowship does not specifically cover tuition fees, including those charged at international student rates.
No. The amount awarded is determined on a case-by-case basis, considering factors such as financial need, location, living costs, and personal circumstances.
The Phoenix Fellowship is partnering with Refugee Education UK (reuk.org) who will faciliate all aspects of financial support to Phoenix Fellows. Details of payment of funding will be explained in more details to Fellows once a fellowship has been awarded.
Eligible applicants must submit their application using the online application form. Please note that applications will only be accepted via this form; applications submitted by any other means will not be considered.
The application deadline will be clearly stated on the online application form. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
Yes - you can save your progress and return to your application at a later time if you so wish.
Yes. Applications may be submitted on behalf of a student, provided that the applicant has access to the necessary information required for the form. The student’s personal statement(s) must be written by the student themselves.
No. There is no advantage to submitting an application early. Applicants are encouraged to take the necessary time to complete the application carefully. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
In certain circumstances, assistance may be available to help you complete the application form. Applicants are advised to consult the supporting guidance notes for further information.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply via the Phoenix Fellowship website. Access to a computer and the internet may be available at local libraries, colleges, or community centres. In exceptional circumstances, a hard copy of the application form can be provided upon request. The deadline for hard copy applications is the same as for online applications.
By submitting an application, you consent to the Phoenix Fellowship processing your personal data for the purposes of assessing your application. All personal data will be handled in accordance with the Phoenix Fellowship’s privacy notice, which can be found on our website.
Yes. If you have a question that is not answered in this FAQ or the supporting guidance notes, you are welcome to contact us via the email address provided on our website.
Following the application deadline, all applications will be reviewed and shortlisted. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview with members of the Phoenix Fellowship Academic Advisory Council.
All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application, whether successful or unsuccessful. Applicants are therefore asked to ensure that their contact details provided in the application form are accurate and up to date.
We appreciate that this outcome may be disappointing. Applicants who are not invited for an interview are encouraged to explore alternative sources of funding. Many universities offer scholarships specifically for students who are unable to access student finance due to their immigration status.
Shortlisted applicants will be notified of the date and time of their interview, which will normally be conducted online. If the proposed arrangements are not suitable, an alternative may be offered; however, applicants are asked to be as flexible as possible in making themselves available for interview.
Interviews will be conducted by two or three members of the Academic Advisory Board, together with a former or current Phoenix Fellow. Further information about individual interviewers can be found on our website. Interviews will last approximately 60 minutes.
We encourage all applicants to prepare carefully for their interview. You may find the following guidance helpful:
- Ensure you have access to a strong internet connection.
- Arrange to be in a quiet space where you will not be disturbed.
- The interview is an opportunity for us to get to know you better. There are no trick questions.
- You may be asked about your skills, interests, ambitions, and future plans.
- Be prepared to discuss why you chose your course of study and what you enjoy most about it.
- Interviewers may ask about details included in your application form, as well as your personal background, interests, and motivations.
- Reflect on what makes you a strong candidate for a Phoenix Fellowship and how you would benefit from it.
- You will also have the opportunity to ask questions during the interview.
- It may be helpful to undertake a practice interview with a teacher, support worker, or family member.
Successful applicants typically demonstrate resilience, academic potential, and a strong commitment to their chosen field of study. They are able to show how they have overcome adversity, possess a clear motivation to succeed, and are committed not only to their own academic and professional development but also to giving back to the Phoenix Fellowship community. Fellows are expected, following graduation, to contribute to the Phoenix Fellowship by supporting and mentoring future students as they progress through their own journeys.
It is entirely normal to feel anxious about an interview, particularly if it is your first. Interviewers will be mindful of this and will take any signs of nervousness into account when assessing your application. You will not be asked any questions designed to catch you out; the purpose of the interview is simply to get to know you better and to understand your aspirations and motivations.
As interviews will be conducted online, there will be no need for travel and therefore no travel costs will be reimbursed. Please also note that the Phoenix Fellowship is unable to reimburse candidates for any other costs associated with the interview, such as equipment hire or related expenses.
All candidates will normally be contacted within four to six weeks of their interview with the outcome of their application.
You must notify The Phoenix Fellowship immediately if there is any change to your circumstances during the application process, particularly in relation to your immigration status or your standing as a student on your degree course. It is also essential that you inform us of any changes to your contact details, including your telephone number or email address.
If you change to another course that is eligible under the Fellowship’s criteria, or change university while remaining on an eligible course, you must inform The Phoenix Fellowship immediately. Continued support will be at the discretion of the Fellowship.
If you need to interrupt your studies due to serious personal circumstances, you must inform The Phoenix Fellowship as soon as possible. The continuation or suspension of your Fellowship will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
You must notify The Phoenix Fellowship immediately if you withdraw from your degree course. Failure to do so may result in you being required to repay any funds already awarded and may affect your eligibility for future support from the Fellowship.
Fellowships are awarded for an initial period of one year, with funding provided on a monthly basis. Subject to continued satisfactory academic performance, as confirmed by your university, and at the discretion of The Phoenix Fellowship, you may be considered for renewal on an annual basis up to the completion of your degree.
Fellows who have held their award continuously from its commencement through to the completion of their degree may, at the discretion of the Fellowship, receive continued support for a period of six months following graduation. Such support will be provided at the same monthly level as during their studies, to assist with the transition to employment and to enable them to begin contributing to the Fellowship community as mentors to future Fellows.
The Phoenix Fellowship is committed to making the application process as clear and accessible as possible. Click below for a step-by-step guide to help you understand what to expect from start to finish.