This appeal seeks to support 8 Afghan women to resume their higher education in Scotland from September 2026.

These students belong to a generation of women living under conditions the United Nations has described as gender apartheid, where access to education, work, and public life has been systematically removed. This project exists to provide a small number of fully prepared students with a lawful, structured, and dignified route back into higher education in Scotland.

All 8 students are currently in the final stages of the higher education application and confirmation process. Academic preparation is well advanced, and institutional engagement is already in place, and the students are progressing through established scottish university pathways, with the aim of enrolment in September 2026, subject to formal confirmation.

In line with standard Scottish university timelines, formal decisions on applications are expected during February, although this remains subject to individual university processes.

Each full student sponsorship is $19,000 (approximately £14,000). Contributions of any size are warmly welcomed and will go into a shared fund that will be deployed only once university places are formally confirmed.  This appeal runs in parallel with other funding conversations and support mechanisms currently underway, and is intended to complement those efforts.

One student has now been fully sponsored and is ready to proceed once her university place is formally issued. We are therefore seeking funding for the remaining seven students to ensure that all 8 are able to take up their places and resume their studies in scotland together in 2026.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

This project forms part of our Pathway to Higher Education Abroad, the second pathway within our Mentorship Programme. It supports high performing students to progress from online study into real, accredited university education outside Afghanistan, specifically enabling them to resume degree level study in scotland once admissions are formally confirmed.

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT POLICY

This pathway is made possible under Scottish Government regulations introduced to support Afghan students whose higher education was forcibly disrupted following the change in political regime in September 2021. Under the Education (Fees) (Scotland) Regulations, certain Afghan nationals who were already studying at university at the time their education was halted are classified as “home fee” students for tuition purposes.

In practical terms, this means that eligible students are not charged international tuition fees and are treated in the same way as Scottish students with regard to tuition status and access to student finance, including student loans. All 9 students in this project were studying for bachelor’s degrees when higher education was suspended, and this policy allows them to resume their studies within the Scottish higher education system once admissions are formally confirmed.

Further information can be found on the Scottish Government website (gov.scot) and through UKCISA, the UK Council for International Student Affairs, which provides guidance on student fee status and eligibility.

STUDENT READINESS

The students all live in Afghanistan. Despite the current challenges, they have continued preparing academically through structured English programmes, mentoring, and university preparation so that they are ready to resume higher education in Scotland in fields such as medicine, engineering, and law.

The students have all applied to a foundations course at a Scottish higher education institution, and will be notified of their admissions decisions in the coming weeks. Upon successful completion of the foundation course, students will be eligble to apply to a four-year university program. Acceptance in to the foudnations course is conditional on achieving a passing grade on the IELTS exam, which the students will sit in the coming months.

Despite years of challenges, the students have devoted themselves to their ongoing academic preparation. What they now need is practical support to make the transition possible once their places are formally confirmed.

SUPPORTING THE TRANSITION

Academic preparation is well advanced, and institutional processes are ongoing. This appeal relates only to the practical transition and early living costs required to support the students as they move into university life in Scotland.

Victory Afghanistan is a completely volunteer run organisation. We receive no core funding, and all programmes are delivered by volunteers. We currently have around 150 volunteers across 24 different countries supporting more than 800 girls and women in our academy.

Alongside other funding conversations and support efforts already underway, this appeal offers members of the public an opportunity to contribute directly to helping these students take the final practical steps toward university. Any support will go solely toward covering essential transition and living costs that make it possible for them to begin their studies once their places are formally confirmed.

THE FUNDING NEED

We are working on a budget of $19,000 per student, which covers the essential and unavoidable costs required to make this transition possible. These include:

• Travel to sit IELTS exam outside Afghanistan: (The exam is required to attain a visa, but women are not currently allowed to take the exam inside Afghanistan.)

• Visa related costs and required financial documentation, including proof of funds requirements, health checks, and tb testing.

• Flights and safe travel to Scotland.

• Initial accommodation and settling in costs.

• Basic living support during the transition period, including the period prior to accessing student finance or employment.

Tuition fees are not included in this amount. Under Scottish Government policy, these students are treated as home fee students and are therefore eligible for the same tuition support and student finance routes as Scottish students, including access to student loans.

This funding is solely to cover the practical costs of relocation and the early transition period that make it possible for them to reach Scotland and begin university once their admissions are confirmed.

REFUND AND REALLOCATION POLICY

If, for any reason, a student is unable to proceed to university after funds have been raised, all donations allocated to that student will either be refunded to donors upon request or reassigned transparently to support another eligible student within the same programme. No funds will be retained or redirected without donor consent.

In the event that a student’s start date shifts from 2026 to 2027 due to admissions or visa timelines, all funds will remain ring fenced and held securely until the student is able to proceed.

SECURITY AND SAFEGUARDING

Please note that, due to the security sensitive environment in which we operate, we must be careful about how much detail we publish publicly.

Our priority is to protect our students and the wider school community. More detailed information can always be shared directly on request, but our online presence is intentionally kept light to avoid drawing unwanted attention that could place students or volunteers at risk.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For further information or questions, please contact the team at: [email protected]

WHY THIS MATTERS NOW

Across Afghanistan, there are currently more than 20,000 girls and women trying to continue their education online despite the bans on schooling, university, and employment. These 8 students represent a small number who have reached the final stage where real university access is now possible pending final confirmation from institutions.

ECONOMIC CONTEXT

The average household income in Afghanistan is extremely low. Many families survive on between $60 and $100 per month (£48 to £80), and even at the higher end monthly earnings rarely go above $170 to $200 (£135 to £160).

This means that the full cost of sponsoring one student represents many years of total household income for most Afghan families. There is no realistic way for parents to meet these costs themselves. External sponsorship is not an extra. It is the only possible route for these students to access higher education.

ABOUT VICTORY AFGHANISTAN

These students are part of Victory Afghanistan, a women led, volunteer run education and mentorship organisation supporting over 800 Afghan girls and women who have been banned from school, university, and work. Victory Afghanistan was founded by Afghan women in 2023 and is a US registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All programmes are delivered free of charge to students.

OUR VOLUNTEER MODEL

The organisation is completely unfunded. No directors, managers, teachers, or mentors are paid. Every role is carried out by volunteers. We currently have around 150 volunteers from 24 different countries working together to make this possible.

TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

All donations are made to Victory Afghanistan’s registered US nonprofit bank account. From there, the organisation pays directly for the required costs such as visas, travel, accommodation, and essential expenses. Funds are not handed directly to students. This ensures financial transparency, accountability, and proper safeguarding at every stage.

We operate with formal governance, safeguarding policies, and financial oversight. We are fully accountable for how every donation is used. We will update this page as sponsorships are confirmed and as funds are allocated. Any surplus or adjustments once final costs are confirmed will be transparently reported and directed solely toward student support.

For donors who would like further information, we can provide:

• Impact Brief

• Anonymous profiles of each student

• A clearer breakdown of how funds are allocated

PLEASE NOTE:

University places for the students referenced in this appeal have not yet been formally offered. Based on current university timelines, formal decisions are expected during february, however this remains subject to university processes. This appeal is intended to prepare financially in advance of potential offers being issued. Funds will only be deployed once formal university admissions and relevant visa requirements are confirmed. If a student is unable to proceed, donations will be refunded or transparently reallocated in line with our stated policy.

In addition to this appeal, we are also running a separate fundraising campaign to support laptop access for students who continue to study online. Further information can be found here:

https://givebutter.com/ywtWJv

VOLUNTEER WITH US

If you are interested in volunteering with Victory Afghanistan, please view our current volunteer vacancies here.

https://www.idealist.org/en/nonprofit/8420e16931904e8c9212730b8752f96e-victory-afghanistan-kabul

WEBSITE www.victoryafghanistan.org

INSTAGRAM @victoryafghanistan

We are always grateful to connect with people who share our belief in education, dignity, and opportunity for Afghan girls and women.