Refugee Week

The University supports Refugee Week, an annual festival around World Refugee Day on 20 June, celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.

Explore remarkable narratives from our faculty, students, and graduates, and discover our events and resources showcasing our engagement in Refugee Week throughout past years.

Refugee Week 2025

Refugee Week 2025 will be on 16-22 June 2025. The theme for Refugee Week 2024 is “Community as a Superpower”.

Communities can bring people together. Bridging divides and offering support. Spaces of resilience and places for healing. 

This Refugee Week everyone is invited to spend time with friends and build new connections in and beyond our neighbourhoods. From communal meals and open air film screenings, to football matches and music making, let’s share the feelings of welcome and belonging. Listening, learning, laughing together. 

Simple Acts

Refugee Week's Simple Acts are everyday actions we can all do to stand with refugees and make new connections in our communities.

  • Watch a film
  • Listen and share
  • Read a book
  • Send a message
  • Have a chat
  • Share a dish
  • Walk together
  • Grow your compassion
  • Use your platform
  • Join the movement
Simple Acts illustrations

Refugee Week at The University of Edinburgh

During Refugee Week 2023 we celebrated the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary alongside the theme of Compassion.

Ƶhas an extended history of providing a place of sanctuary and education for those seeking protection, with notable alumni who have found sanctuary at the University including physicist Max Born. Over the years, many staff and students have joined the University community and found a place of support, sanctuary and opportunity.

Edinburgh alum, Dajana Dzanovic, reached out to the University with her incredible account of her experience seeking asylum in the early 90's.

Read Edinburgh alum Dajana's personal story of overcoming extraordinary barriers

Amanullah Ahmadzai and his family were forced to leave their home in Afghanistan in May 2022. Since then, Amanullah has been able to continue in his academic profession as a Research Fellow at the Edinburgh Law School.

Read Amanullah's story

At-risk academic, Salim, share his personal story of huge disruption in his academic career, and finding his way in Scotland.

Read Salim's story

Ƶhas long been committed to its role as a University of Sanctuary, working in partnership with the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA) to help protect vulnerable scholars and refugees. Here, we look at the role the University played in supporting renowned Viennese composer, Hans Gál, after fleeing from Nazi occupied Austria.

Read Hans Gál's story


Refugee Week 2022 was held on 20–26 June surrounding the theme of 'healing'.

Read about our students and alums, Anna, Nula, and Hammed's journeys into Refugee Activism and their starts at the University of Edinburgh.

Read our Refugee Week 2022 community stories

During 2022, countless people across the globe watched in disbelief as Russian forces invaded Ukraine. To mark Refugee Week 2022, it seemed fitting to focus on the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and speak to staff who have been doing all they can to help.


The University held a series of events during Refugee Week 2021 (14-20 June) to showcase Edinburgh’s support of refugee projects.

One voice who shared their story during the week was the new University Rector, Debora Kayembe. Her appointment to the role marked several key milestones for Edinburgh: She is both the first person of colour and the first former refugee to hold the position; her history actively supporting and representing refugee minorities as a lawyer in Scotland makes her uniquely aware of the progress we have made and the work that remains.

Debora used her time as a guest on the Much Language Such Talk podcast to talk about World Refugee Day:

During this year, our events were an online showcase of storytelling, art, resources and contemplation designed to increase to raise awareness of the refugee experience in the UK and promote conversation around the subject.

Due to their digital nature, these events remain available as an online resource.

Access our Refugee Week 2021 online events and resources


In 2020, the University hosted an online Refugee Week showcasing Edinburgh’s support of refugee projects, centring around World Refugee Day on 20 June. This year's theme was 'Imagine'. We also took part in the 'Simple Acts' digital campaign. Simple Acts are everyday actions we can all do to stand with refugees and make new connections in our communities.

We reached out to a variety of student groups, community groups and individuals to find out more about some of the fantastic work being carried out in Edinburgh to support refugees in our community.

Read all of these incredible stories via our 2020 Refugee Week story book

Explore our Refugee Week 2020 highlights


In 2019, the University ran a series of events in support of national and regional activities celebrating refugees. The theme for this year’s Refugee Week was “you, me and those who came before”, exploring the lives of refugees and those who have welcomed them. The activities ran from the 17 – 28 June and included filming screenings, art exhibitions and workshops.

The Scottish Refugee Council also held events throughout Scotland, which celebrated the contribution that refugees make to Scotland - this year the theme of the festival was “Making Art, Making Home” focusing on the talent, creativity and reliance of new Scottish Artists.

Find out more about the events which took place during Refugee Week 2019


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