Refugee English Fund

The Refugee English Fund can support you to improve your English language skills for study at university.

If you have refugee status, English an additional language, and you are preparing to study at university (or other tertiary study), the Refugee English Fund could pay your fees for one of these two courses:

• English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
• WRIT 151: Writing in English as a Second Language.

The EAP Advanced course gave me a strong start by improving my academic English, even though I grew up speaking it. Small classes, friendly teachers, and a safe campus made me feel excited to begin.

Eligibility

This funding is for students who have English as an additional language and who have refugee status. You may qualify if you meet both of these criteria:

• you are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, or if you have a returning resident's visa
• you came to New Zealand either as a government quota refugee, under the family reunification scheme, or as a convention or other refugee (for example, seeking asylum).

What to study

Choose which course you study based on your current English language skills and your study plans.

Both the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and WRIT 151: Writing in English as a Second Language courses run for one trimester. The EAP programme is full time, whereas WRIT 151 requires three hours of workshop attendance per week.

More information

Not sure which programme is best for you? You can:

• talk to the programme coordinator for EAP or WRIT 151
• contact the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies—email lals@vuw.ac.nz or call (04) 463 5600
• talk to our Refugee-Background Student Adviser
• contact the Red Cross Pathways to Employment Service.

People

Dr Angela Joe

Associate Dean, International

Wellington Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

• angela.joe@vuw.ac.nz
• MY 308, Murphy Building, 21D Kelburn Parade

Abdul Haidari

Refugee Background Student Adviser

Student Experience and Wellbeing

• abdul.haidari@vuw.ac.nz
• 02108666575
• SU 213, Student Union And Memorial Theatre, Gate 3, Kelburn Parade

Manager Pathways to Employment
New Zealand Red Cross

• @redcross.org.nz

The lecturers genuinely care about your success, and there are many services available to help with learning, wellbeing, and career development. The diverse student community makes it easy to meet new people and feel included.