Academics and students all over the world receive threats because of their critical questions, their work, or their ideas. They need peace, protection, and academic freedom to be able to share their knowledge. By offering these people a safe place to study or work at the University of Amsterdam, we are able to safeguard public and independent knowledge. And you can help.

Crowdfunding campaign

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the beginning of the year once again opened many people’s eyes. We saw the horrific circumstances in which people living in the midst of war find themselves. Thousands of people from Ukraine sought refuge because their home was no longer safe. The Amsterdam University Fund (AUF) was committed to helping UvA students who found themselves in financial distress as a result of this war. Many donors boosted these students’ spirits during the successful crowdfunding campaign and made it possible for us to offer them grants that really made a difference.

The Study without Borders Fund

We know that, besides the war in Ukraine, there are many other places in the world where people are unfortunately living in unsafe situations – and because of a war or their religion, sexual orientation, or political convictions, they are forced to flee. Some of these people are academics and students. For this reason, two of AUF’s extraordinary donors set up the Study without Borders Fund in 2016. Students and researchers who are refugees can start or continue their studies or research at the University of Amsterdam. You can help make this financially possible.

A home and a place to study

UvA student Mousa received one of these grants from the Study without Borders Fund. After his exchange year in the Netherlands, he was unable to return to his home country of Saudi Arabia. This was partly due to his activist past, but perhaps even more so due to the arrest of his mother, a prominent advocate for Saudi women’s rights. “So, there I was... without a degree, without a job and without any prospects,” Mousa told the AUF. Thanks to the grant, he was able to start studying Cultural Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam. Mousa: “The programme is very broad; I’m learning so much. About life, but also about myself.” After his Bachelor’s degree, he hopes to stay in Amsterdam to do a Master’s, because he is “100% happy” here.

With a grant from the Study without Borders Fund, we can offer refugee students and academics a safe place to study or work at the University of Amsterdam. But we can’t do this without financial contributions from our donors. Will you help us?