“After the war in Ukraine started, I found sanctuary in York.”
Education has the power to transform lives. Yet across the world, many people are forced to flee conflict and give up their studies. 40% of people worldwide can access higher education, but only 6% of refugees have this opportunity.
Vitalina was one of these people. Passionate about sustainability, she already had dreams of studying a Masters abroad. But when the war in Ukraine started, she was forced to make a huge decision about her future in an instant.
“Before moving to York and the UK, my life was really busy. I worked as a digital manager in a global space-tech company and have 10 years of experience in marketing communications, including running my own projects. I lived in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. A year before the war, I bought my first car, traveled a lot, and spent time with friends. Life was good.
Then I started volunteering on environmental projects and changed my lifestyle. That’s when I realised I wanted to switch careers and focus on sustainability.”
In 2022, tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalated, and Russia launched a full scale invasion of Ukraine. Suddenly, Vitalina had to think about how she would pursue her dreams in the midst of a conflict.
“My initial plan was to save money from my salary to pay for my studies. But when the war started, everything changed. I can’t ask my parents for help because they still live in Ukraine. I wasn’t working either, so I couldn’t prepare financially for studying. Without the scholarship, life would have been much harder.”
Vitalina was supported by the Equal Access Scholarship, a fully funded scholarship that covers living expenses as well as tuition. It’s made possible by the York Sanctuary Fund: the university’s fund to support students and academics fleeing conflict. The fund helps those affected access higher education, find safety, and rebuild their lives at the University of York.
“I was really impressed by the University of York — they didn’t just stick to the rules rigidly. They were flexible and understanding throughout the whole process, always taking my situation into account. The student recruitment team checked in with me regularly to see how I was doing and if I needed any help.
During my studies, I met other students from Ukraine who also have the same Equal Access scholarship. Some of them have young children, while others have just finished their studies at a Ukrainian university. Each person has a very different situation, and that’s why these opportunities are so important — they help everyone follow their dreams and achieve their goals.”
“I want to follow my dreams and build a career in sustainability. For the next few years, I can’t go back to Ukraine, so I’ve decided to stay in the UK. We all hope that one day the situation in Ukraine will be safe, and that the knowledge we gain from studying here will help rebuild the country after the war.“
“My proudest achievement is the effort I put into learning English over three years to follow my dream of studying at a university in the UK. It took courage to start a new life abroad and begin from scratch. Looking back at how I’ve managed life at the University of York — studying in a foreign language, without the support of close family — every day shows me the obstacles and barriers I’ve overcome.”
“Without your support, I honestly don’t know where I’d be — still in the UK, back in Ukraine, or somewhere else entirely. It’s incredibly hard to change your life and start from scratch. The scholarship gave me a real chance — not just to study, but to enjoy my studies and focus on what I want to do after university. That’s why I want to say a heartfelt thank you.”
“Today I’m currently based in London, working as an independent consultant specialising in sustainability and marketing for small businesses in the hospitality sector. I help them integrate ESG principles into their operations and long-term strategy.”
Since graduating, I’ve continued deepening my knowledge in sustainability and, last year, earned a Level 3 qualification as a Sustainability Project Officer (Domestic Retrofit Advice).
In my current role, I develop decarbonisation and community giving strategies aligned with climate targets, guide companies through the B Corp certification process, and create systems for tracking environmental performance. I also collaborate with senior leadership to embed sustainability into governance, procurement, and people development.
I believe programmes like the Equal Access Scholarship offer people like me — who found themselves at a crossroads or in a challenging life situation, a solid foundation to start a new life. I'm truly grateful for the opportunity it gave me.”
Find out more about the York Sanctuary Fund and our Equal Access Scholarships.