A student looks through the window of the infamously orange John Marsh building.

Mansfield College: A College of Sanctuary

In 2021, Mansfield College was recognised, alongside Somerville College, as one of the UK’s first University Colleges of Sanctuary by the UK charity City of Sanctuary. As a College of Sanctuary, our community demonstrates an ongoing commitment to nurturing a culture of inclusivity and awareness on campus for those seeking sanctuary (which includes refugees and asylum seekers), as well as in the wider community.

To achieve this recognition, we have drawn together our current initiatives which support asylum seekers and refugees, as well as our aims for the future, which are highlighted in our college of sanctuary submission. Read our College of Sanctuary submission here.

Mansfield College has always been proud to include the excluded. From its foundations as a college for non-conformists, enabling non-members of the Church of England to study at Oxford University, to its present day, as one of the most progressive and diverse of all of the Oxford colleges, at Mansfield we have challenged ourselves to widen access to Oxford for those with talent and potential, who, due to circumstance, ill-luck, oversight, or prejudice, may otherwise have been excluded.

"I am delighted and proud that Mansfield College Oxford has been recognised as a University College of Sanctuary.

This reflects the open, inclusive and progressive outlook of our entire academic community at Mansfield, and our commitment to living its values by making education and ideas available to a broad range of people without discrimination.

We look forward to playing an active role in the University of Sanctuary network; embedding a culture of inclusion and support for those who have been forced to migrate from their homes to seek sanctuary in the UK; and welcoming our first Council of Lutheran Churches Sanctuary Scholar in October [2021], thanks to the generous support of the Council of Lutheran Churches."

Helen Mountfield KC

Principal, Mansfield College

Meet our inaugural Council of Lutheran Churches Sanctuary Scholar for 2021-2022

Ilham is wearing a graduation gown and a Harvard scarf. She smiles in front of a river.

Ilham Abdalla Tagelsir Ali is a recent graduate of Harvard College, with a Bachelor of Arts in History & Science and a secondary in Government. Born and raised in Sudan, Ilham draws upon much of her experience in Sudan for inspiration in all her pursuits: advocacy, academia and artistry. She is deeply invested in constitutional reform in Sudan, social justice across the globe, and neuroscience that is relevant to law. Ilham will be pursuing an MPhil in Socio-Legal Research at Oxford.

Our College of Sanctuary Co-ordinator

Our Chaplain, Nathan Mulcock, is the appointed College of Sanctuary co-ordinator. Don't hesitate to contact Nathan at chaplain@mansfield.ox.ac.uk about any events, news or questions you may have.

Applying to be a CLC Sanctuary Scholar

If you fulfil the eligibility criteria and apply for your course by the relevant December or January deadline for your course, you will automatically be considered for the Oxford Refugee Scholarship. For more information, visit the University of Oxford Graduate Scholarship website.

Events

Mansfield College runs a variety of annual events to raise awareness about sanctuary seekers, two of which are featured on our YouTube here:

Refugee Week YouTube Holding Screen