Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are CARA grants for? CARA grants assist refugee academics by providing financial support to help them take academic or professional qualifications to improve their employment prospects in the UK.

2. What is a refugee academic? A refugee academic is someone who was a lecturer and/or a researcher at a university in their home country and who has UK refugee status or ILR, ELR, HP or DP in the UK.

3. What can I get funding for? A CARA grant can be used to cover tuition fees and related expenses. For example: exam or bench fees, research related costs, travel expenses, equipment costs (eg. computer), books, printing and stationery costs and childcare costs. On occasion, CARA will also provide grants for work placements that are clearly related to employment.

There is no fixed minimum or maximum amount that can be applied for.

4. How do I apply for a CARA grant? If you were a lecturer or researcher at a university in your home country and have UK refugee status or ILR, ELR, HP or DP in the UK, please contact CARA to request an enquiry form and return it along with a copy of your CV by email to info.cara@lsbu.ac.uk or by post to

CARA
London South Bank University Technopark
90 London Road
London SE1 6LN

5. What happens after I have submitted a CARA enquiry form? A member of CARA's programme staff will contact you to discuss your academic background, what you need a CARA grant for and how a CARA grant will increase your employment prospects and your integration in the UK.

If you would like a grant from CARA, you must clearly indicate how a CARA grant will assist you to rebuild your academic and/or professional career in the UK. CARA's programme staff can advise you, where possible, on finding the most suitable qualification route, for employment in the UK.

6. How does the CARA application process work?

6. 1 CARA staff will talk to you about your academic background, what you wish to do with a grant from CARA and how a CARA grant will improve your employment prospects.

6.2 Your suitability to apply for a grant will be assessed.

6. 3 If you are asked to submit an application, further details on CARA's grant round will be provided. Applications must be received two months before the February or August meetings of the CARA Allocation Committee.

6. 4 CARA staff will review your application and invite you to attend an informal interview at CARA's office. The interview will be an opportunity for CARA to learn more about you and for you to ask questions about the grant process.

6. 5 CARA will submit your application form and accompanying documents to CARA's Allocation Committee. The Allocation Committee is responsible for all decisions relating to the allocation of CARA grants.

6.6 You will receive the outcome of your application 2-3 weeks after the Allocation meeting.

7. Can I discuss my application form before submission? CARA's Programme staff is happy to advise you on the completion of your application form.

8. Do I have to nominate any referees with my application? Yes. CARA asks that you nominate 3 academic or professional referees that are relevant to your academic and/or professional past. Your referees are a very important part of your application so you must provide full contact details for each referee.

Although we fully appreciate that your situation may make it difficult for you to provide referees from amongst academic or professional colleagues in your country of origin, we advise that you include one or more, if at all possible. If you have any problems regarding referees, please do not hesitate to contact CARA.

9. Do I have to have a place at university or on the relevant course, before applying for a CARA grant? No. If you are unsure what qualification to do or where to study, we would rather you seek advice from CARA than submit an application with no information on your chosen course or university. For your application to be brought to the Allocation Committee, you must have a place at a university or on the relevant course and be able to provide detailed information on costs.

10. Do I choose a full or part-time course at university? CARA is not usually able to fund maintenance costs. If you study part-time, you are allowed to continue to claim benefits and find part-time work to fund your studies. For further information on claiming benefits whilst studying, please go to www.directgov.gov.uk.

11. What if I haven't got any existing evidence of my qualifications? CARA understands that it is not always possible for applicants to provide evidence of their qualifications. CARA is happy to see if they can assist you.

12. What if I don't get accepted on a course? If you are not accepted on the course you applied to CARA to fund, please contact CARA's Programme staff. We will advise you as to whether the offer of a grant can be extended to enable you to identify and apply for a similar course elsewhere or the same course the following year.

13. Who decides whether I get a grant? The Allocation Committee who meet in February and August each year.

14. What if my grant is unsuccessful? CARA has a limited amount of funds available and, as a result, is not able to support all the applications it receives. If your application is not successful, CARA staff will provide you with feedback from the Allocation Committee and may be able to offer advice on other paths open to you.