This petition is ONLY open to LSE students and staff.LSE email-addresses must be provided for verification reasons (these will not be published).

08\02\2013

Dear Craig Calhoun,

We are writing to you regarding equal access to education at LSE for prospective students who have come to the UK seeking refugee protection.

Asylum seekers and those who have been granted Discretionary Leave to Remain (DLR) in the UK do not have equal access to higher education. Generally, they cannot access student loans or grants and have to pay international fees. Asylum seekers have no right to work, and live on just £36 a week. They cannot afford to pay up to £30,000 a year in university fees. Furthermore, someone who has fled their country of origin to avoid war, torture or persecution should be differentiated from an international student who has chosen to study in Britain.

LSE policy on this matter remains unclear and ambiguous.LSE could follow the lead of other universities including Manchester, Leeds and Royal Holloway, who have already adopted Equal Access measures to support those seeking protection.

We are calling for LSE to:

• Enableasylum seekers and those with DLR status to study at LSE as home students with equal access to additional support, such as bursaries.

• Sponsor a certain amount of asylum seekers and those with DLR status to study at LSE

• Clarify LSE policy concerning asylum seekers and those with DLR status in LSE information portals (website, leaflets, student admission brochure etc).

• Adopt the campaign logo 'Equal Access to Education' and place it on the LSE Admissions website.

Sincerely,

Petitioners, LSESU Student Action for Refugees (STAR) & LSE Student Union

LSESU Student Action for Refugees (STAR) LSE Student Union