University of Dundee Humanitarian Scholarship ‘Pause’

Molly Wilson

At the Student Townhall meeting held on the 6th of May in Dalhousie, it was announced that the University has cut the Humanitarian Scholarship for the next academic year.

Image: YouthHop

Blair Grubb and Shane O’Neil emphasised that the university is only taking a pause on the scholarship and that they will review in a year’s time. Grubb said,

“As income is reduced, we have less money available for these sorts of things. We've taken the decision in the first instance to suspend humanitarian scholarships for one year. We'll review it before the end of that year to decide whether we can reinstate it”.

However, this announcement comes at a time where there are many world conflicts that create refugees. Grubb continued,

“These are really tough decisions to have to make,  but we have to ensure the financial sustainability of the university first”.

The majority of the student body are not aware of what the humanitarian scholarship is, much less that the university has quietly made the decision to pause it for the next academic year.

In short, the humanitarian scholarship is:

A bursary that enables students from areas and countries that are currently experiencing war, genocide, and famine, (for example) to receive a full tuition waiver for the whole of their programme of study.

This bursary would not only cover a student’s tuition but their accommodation and living expenses.

Students from these tumultuous backgrounds would not have the resources to access higher education otherwise, leaving them in dangerous situations, often without access to education.

One student, who chose to remain anonymous, said they were disappointed by the lack of clarity committed by the senior staff present at the townhall meeting:

“None of my questions for; full continued communication and transparency with the student community, effort in working for a temporary solution, and for a proper commitment in reinstating the scholarship fully by a certain date were answered by the panel.”

The student emphasises that they think the university is viewing the scholarship in the wrong way; as a charitable measure instead of an essential service and duty the university has, as a global institution, to refugees and asylum seekers.

 This decision to cut this scholarship reveals that international students escaping conflict and genocide are not a priority for them which comes in contrast to how heavily the university relies on and values international students.

This was a decision made completely in the dark, without student consultation.

Many people were not aware of it until this town hall meeting where a student raised their concerns.

While consulting students and staff who will be affected by the decision is important, making such decisions behind closed doors without transparent communication raises concerns about inclusivity and openness.

Students and staff are under no illusion that budgets need to be cut, and money needs to be saved in order to keep the university afloat.

However, the members of the UEG who are making these decisions are making six-figure salaries which undercuts the validity behind the decision to cut this vital scholarship; especially to those escaping war, famine, genocide and other atrocities the UEG cannot even imagine.