Displaced Students Can Now Apply for Free Master's Degree Support Through a Global Programme
Kakuma, 6 June 2026
The Refugee-Led Research Hub has opened applications for Graduate Horizons 2026-2027, offering displaced persons free guidance through the complex postgraduate admissions process. The deadline is 24 August 2026.
What Is Graduate Horizons and Who Is It For?
The Refugee-Led Research Hub (RLRH) has officially launched Graduate Horizons for the 2026-2027 academic year, a global programme designed to help displaced people apply for Master’s degrees at universities around the world [1]. The programme is open to a wide range of people who have been forced to leave their homes or country, including refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and stateless individuals [1]. If you hold an undergraduate degree and you fall into one of these categories, you are encouraged to apply.
What Help Does the Programme Actually Provide?
Graduate Horizons offers practical, step-by-step guidance through the entire Master’s application process [1]. This includes help with writing personal statements, which are one of the most important and most difficult parts of any graduate application [GPT]. The programme also helps applicants identify universities and programmes that are the right fit for their academic background and career goals, and assists with securing fee waivers, which can significantly reduce the financial cost of applying to universities abroad [1].
How to Apply: A Step-by-Step Guide
The application process is straightforward. First, visit the RLRH Graduate Horizons announcement page via the UNHCR Kenya help portal at help.unhcr.org/kenya [1]. From there, you will find a link to the full eligibility criteria and the application form hosted on the RLRH page at the University of Oxford’s Refugee Studies Centre website [1]. Read the eligibility criteria carefully before you begin filling in the form, to make sure you qualify. If you have questions at any point during the process, you can contact the programme team directly by email at [email protected] [1].
Why This Matters: Access to Postgraduate Education for the Displaced
Access to higher education remains one of the most significant challenges facing the world’s displaced population [GPT]. For those who have already completed an undergraduate degree despite the disruptions caused by displacement, a Master’s qualification can be transformative — opening doors to professional roles, research careers, and leadership positions both within and beyond the humanitarian sector [GPT]. Graduate Horizons directly addresses the gap between ambition and access by providing the expert guidance that most applicants in Kakuma and Kalobeyei would otherwise be unable to afford [1].