How we’re responding to the invasion of Ukraine

You can also find resources for affected staff and students, resources for university staff and our latest statement. 

Together with Cormack Consultancy Group (CCG), we have established a twinning initiative between UK and Ukrainian universities. To date, there are over 70 partnerships that will help share resources and support Ukrainian institutions, staff and students.  

The aim is to establish partnerships that will help restore the Ukrainian higher education system and ensure Ukraine’s universities not only survive but play a role in post-war reconstruction. 

We welcome the recent announcement by the UK government for financial support of the Twinning Scheme.

We believe the UK should be a welcoming place for academics and students fleeing conflict.

The Home Office has announced three different visa schemes to support Ukrainians fleeing the conflict. This includes:

• the Ukraine Family Scheme
• the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) designed to support those looking to travel to the UK
• the Ukraine Extension Scheme for those already within the UK and who are seeking to extend their stay

We are engaging with officials across the Home Office to explore further support for Ukrainians in the UK. This includes information and clarity on whether there will be any possibility to extend leave once on the different visa schemes (recognising that they only grant permission for up to 3 years).

We are also asking whether those studying on the different schemes will be able to switch onto other visa routes within the UK following their studies, including the Graduate route.

We have worked closely with the British Academy on its Researchers at Risk Fellowship Programme which is being delivered in partnership with the Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara).

The UK government has announced a £9.8 million package in addition to the previous £3 million package of support for Ukrainian researchers at risk to help them continue their work in the UK.

We are looking into the likely impact on the financial situation and wellbeing of all affected students in the UK. We are supporting our members on this issue and working with the government to seek support where it’s needed. 

We are working with Refugee Education UK, along with a range of other groups, to develop a co-ordinated approach to support students fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.

We welcome the announcement from the Department for Education regarding hardship support as outlined in the guidance to the Office for Students. We have also had confirmation that, from 2022–23, displaced Ukrainian students settling in England, Scotland or Wales on any of the three immigration routes will be given access to Home fee status and student finance support. We expect this to be replicated also across Northern Ireland.

On 7 March, we formally suspended our Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Russian Union of Rectors (RUR). This followed a statement from the RUR in which it gave its full support to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 
  
In suspending the MoU, we highlighted our unequivocal condemnation of the invasion. We repeated our commitment to the exchange of ideas between academics and universities, and our intention to continue to support the welfare of Russian students and staff in the UK. 
  
We are advising all our members to review any current or planned collaborations or financial arrangements with Russian organisations, using the detailed guidance in our Managing risks in internationalisation. We are aware that some universities have suspended existing partnerships.   

Research collaboration with Russia 

We have worked with the UK Government on how to develop the most effective and targeted actions against the Putin regime. On 27 March, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy published more information on research and innovation sanctions on Russia. We recognise and support the decision to stop funding new collaborative projects with Russia.  

On 4 March, the EU Commission issued a statement confirming that it will not sign any new Horizon grant agreements with Russian entities and will review any existing agreements. 

Education partnerships with Russia 

We continue to work closely with the Office for Students (OfS) on its approach to regulating the provision on higher education courses to students located in Russia. We’re working closely with all our members across the UK that provide higher education in Russia in all nations to support them through their response. 

  
 
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