Eastern Europe – support available

The current war in Ukraine and global political situation is worrying for us all. We recognise that some members of our community may be more affected by the recent events, you may be directly affected, have friends or family connected to the region, or be experiencing increased anxiety. We want to highlight the support available to any member of the BU community affected in any way by the situation.

Find information on:

Please note: this page include links to external resources which may be of use, and do not represent an endorsement from the university.

Support for students

If you are a student affected by the situation in any way and feel that it is impacting your studies or research, please talk to your programme team. There is a range of resources to support your health and wellbeing on the website, including contact details for our services, guidance for looking after your wellbeing and a comprehensive list of wellbeing resources. Our Faith & Reflection service also offers a space for quiet space on campus. If you would like specific help, please get in contact with the AskBU team. If you are in need of financial support, please check our financial support and hardship pages. You may also wish to look at our exceptional circumstances policy.

Universities Minister Michelle Donelan MP has written an open letter to Ukrainain students to make them aware of the UK government's hardship fund, and home fee status requirements. You can view this letter on our website.

Support for staff

If you are affected by the events, please talk to your line manager about any impact on you and your work. You can also access a range of resources from the Health, Safety and Wellbeing team on the staff intranet, including details of how to access the Employee Assistance Programme and information about supplementary external support available. The Faith & Reflection service supports staff and students and offers a space for quiet space on campus. If there is further help you need, please get in touch with HR and/or the Health, Safety and Wellbeing team.

Support for applicants

If you have applied for study at BU and are affected by the situation please contact us via our International Admissions Enquiry Form to discuss your circumstances.

You may also find the answers to some frequently asked questions on our Ukranian nationals coming to study at BU page or our Ukranian Extension Scheme page.

UK Government advice and travel

The UK Government has confirmed that Ukrainians who are on work, study or visit visas in the UK will have their visas temporarily extended or be able to switch onto different visa routes. Please check and follow the information the gov.uk website, with information specific to your circumstances available. A page of information for UK visa support for Ukranian nationals has also been created to provide futher information.

Please note, the UK government has advised against all travel to Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. There are also restrictions placed on travel to nearby countries such as Poland. Please visit the respective gov.uk pages for specific advice on restrictions for each country.

Please also speak to your line manager or programme leader before undertaking any international travel to or through affected or nearby countries.

Showing support to the region

There are a number of local initiatives taking place for staff and students wanting to show support during the crisis, and you are free to make contributions to any charity initiative you wish. Please find links to a few major international charities engaged in relief work across the region:

External resources

Ukrainian nationals seeking pro bono advice from lawyers at the Ukrainian Advice Project can contact [email protected] with some details of their circumstances and advice needed
Citizens Advice is a free service for UK citizens and may be able to provide advice based on your situation
Work Rights Centre
Freemovement.org.uk

Universities UK has also released a statement on the situation in Ukraine, highlighting their advice to Higher Education institutions in the UK, and the Office for Students has a page of helpful information for HE providers.