Top tips for dealing with refugee applications
11 February 2026
Refugee qualifications pose a unique challenge for admitting institutions. Documents such as certificates and transcripts may be incomplete – or missing entirely.
So, what can organisations do to better evaluate the attainment of applicants with refugee backgrounds? In this article, we share top tips from UK ENIC's Research, Data and Insights team.
- Be flexible
Keep in mind that the applicant’s study may have been interrupted due to events outside their control. The person may even have had to flee their home at short notice.
You might therefore need to adjust your expectations around what documentation the applicant will likely be able to present. Above all, it’s important to be flexible, understanding and explore alternatives wherever possible. - Familiarise yourself with key qualifications
If you notice an increase in applications from a specific country, try to familiarise yourself with its key qualifications.
Do students have to choose a particular stream? Which, if any, subjects are compulsory? What qualification title do students receive upon successful completion?
Establishing these basic facts will help you know what to look for and what questions to ask. - Conduct interviews and questionnaires
Speaking to an applicant about their academic history can be a very effective way to obtain information in cases where documentation is unavailable.
Organisations can interview individuals – by telephone, video call or in person – about the subjects/modules studied, research completed, course provider, dates of graduation etc.
Pre-interview questionnaires can also be a helpful way to gather information on an individual’s educational pathway. - Develop tests
Consider what knowledge and/or skills are most fundamental to the study programme or job role and develop tests to assess these. Depending on the field in question, assessments could be practical, written and/or oral. - Request alternative documentation
If needed, consider requesting alternative evidence of skills and knowledge. For example, a preceding school award may help staff determine language, mathematics and/or science proficiency. Other evidence could take the form of schoolwork, work experience records and/or published research.
Some individuals with refugee backgrounds may also hold a European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (EQPR), which provides information about the qualifications they hold. - Create a certificate bank
Building up an internal certificate bank can help staff understand what documentation to expect, typical format/layout and what documents might be missing.
A certificate bank can also serve as a verification tool, giving you other examples to compare against. Just make sure any personal data is redacted to ensure compliance with data protection regulations. - Consult verification platforms
In some cases, it’s possible to independently verify an award’s authenticity online, without having to contact the authorities in-country.
Resources may take the form of official, online verification platforms; graduate lists on university websites; and/or professional registers. - Formalise internal policies
It’s good practice to ensure that clear internal policies are in place for handling refugee qualifications. All admissions staff should know where to access this guidance, enabling them to process applications in a fair, consistent manner.
Policies should be regularly reviewed to ensure their currency, particularly in light of fast-moving global events. - Communicate clearly
The application process can be a particularly stressful and confusing experience for individuals with refugee backgrounds.
Organisations can mitigate for this by ensuring that any requirements are clearly outlined, with extra support signposted where necessary.
When requesting additional documentation, it can also help to clearly describe the information and features it is expected to contain.