Support for Ukrainian and Russian students

Questions students have about how the current conflict may affect their studies, visas and finances at City.

Some of our students have shared questions and concerns about how the current conflict in Ukraine might affect your studies, which we have tried to address below. We will continue to provide you with as much information as we can at this time.

Visa, immigration and asylum

Q: My visa is expiring soon and I cannot go back to my country. What options do I have?

A: If you are a Ukrainian national in the UK and unable to return when your existing visa expires, you can apply for a visa concession which the Home Office has issued for Ukrainian nationals. These concessions will assist Ukrainian nationals in extending their stay in the UK without having to leave and re-apply from overseas.

If you’re in the UK and unable to return to Ukraine, you may be able to extend your visa or switch to another one even if your visa does not normally allow you to do so. Please get in touch with the International Student Advice Team for further guidance. You can contact them via email visaadvice@city.ac.uk or call them on +44 (0)207 040 7040.

A: If you are a Russian national in the UK and unable to return to Russia, you may be able to extend your permission in the UK under the exceptional assurance route. Although this route is predominantly for students who cannot go home due to Covid, it can be used for different purposes.

Q: Where can I get Visa and Immigration advice?

A: If you are sponsored on a Student Visa, your first point of contact is our International Student Advice Team. You can contact them via email or call them on +44 (0)207 040 7040. You can also contact the UKCISA Students advice line: +44 (0)20 7788 9214

If you are a Ukrainian national you may be also able to access free UK immigration advice from the Ukraine Advice Project UK.

Q: I am a third year UG student, currently overseas. I want to apply for the Graduate Immigration Scheme but I cannot do it from overseas. What should I do?

A: According to the current guidance, you should plan to arrive to the UK by 30^th June 2022 in order to apply for the Graduate Immigration Scheme. Please speak to our International Student Advice Team closer to the time in case this is not possible for you.

Q: How can I claim asylum for my family and I?

A: Please read this guidance to the UK immigration and asylum system and seek legal advice if you are thinking about claiming asylum in the UK.

If you are a Ukrainian national you may be also able to access free UK immigration advice from the Ukraine Advice Project UK.

Q: I am worried about my family in Ukraine. Can I sponsor family members in Ukraine to join me in the UK?

A: Students can generally only sponsor partners and minor children; however the UK Government is working on a sponsorship scheme for family members of Ukrainian nationals who do not have indefinite permission to remain in the UK see the UK Government’s Guidance

Course and studies

Q: I am in the UK but due to the current situation I cannot come to campus - what do I do?

A: If you are struggling and not coping with your studies at the moment, please speak to your Student Engagement/Student Welfare Officer in your School. They will be your first point of contact. You can contact them at:

The City Law School - cls.support@city.ac.uk
Bayes Business School - Business.school.welfare@city.ac.uk
School of Health & Psychological Sciences - shpsswelfare@city.ac.uk
The School of Policy & Global Affairs (previously School of Arts and Social Sciences) - sass-welfare@city.ac.uk
The School of Communication & Creativity (previously School of Arts and Social Sciences) - sass-welfare@city.ac.uk
School of Science & Technology - SST-welfare@city.ac.uk

Sponsored student visa holders can access other support services at City.

Q: I am currently overseas and due to the current situation, I can’t follow or engage with my course - what options do I have?

A: If you are struggling to attend your course due to the current situation, please speak to your Student Engagement/Student Welfare Officer in your School in the first instance. They can talk you through the options below in more detail:

You can defer your studies and join us next year. Please speak to your Course Officer in your School to start the deferral process.
Apply for Authorised Absence for maximum of 60 days. Please read further information on our visa pages and complete the Authorised Absence form.

Q: I am currently overseas and due to the current situation I am unable to access Moodle or other City platforms. What options do I have?

A: If you are struggling to access your online learning environment due to the current situation, please contact your Course Office to advise on the options that are available to you. You can find their contact details at the bottom of the page.

Q: I am Ukrainian/Russian, with Russian/Ukrainian course mates and am worried that the conflict will spill over into my studies at City, what should I do?

We expect all members of our community to be supportive and considerate of one another at all times. We will not tolerate any behaviour which falls below these standards and if you do experience this, you can report it to us report it via our You Report, We Support tool.

Fees and financial support

Q: I have a payment agreement in place but I will be struggling to pay my next instalment. What shall I do?

A: If you need advice about your payment plan and your next instalment of your fees than please contact the Student Centre via email, explaining your situation and they will be able to help you to speak to the correct team in the University.

Q: I am struggling financially at the moment. Is there any financial support available?

A: If you are struggling financially, there is a hardship fund at City that you can apply for. Please see the City Hardship Fund web page for full details. You can also find further information about funding on our Student Hub page.