Laurier prioritizing applications from those fleeing Afghanistan

Oct. 4, 2021

In August, the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, putting hundreds of thousands of Afghanis at risk. Shortly after, the Canadian government announced its commitment to resettle 20,000 Afghan refugees from high-risk groups. The government has since doubled that commitment.

Laurier is doing its part to help all refugees in Canada through a special admissions policy, which offers direct admission, including entrance scholarships and transfer credits, for those with “protected person” or “convention refugee” status. At this time, Laurier’s admissions team is prioritizing undergraduate applications from those fleeing Afghanistan.

“Developing global citizens is an integral part of Laurier’s internationalization objective,” says Ben Yang, director of Global Engagement at Laurier International. “Expediting youth fleeing Afghanistan to study at Laurier demonstrates our community’s commitment to support people in need and strong motivation to advance internationalization and intercultural learning of the university.”

Laurier is a referral partner for the World Education Services Gateway Program, which assesses the educational credentials of those who have been displaced and have limited proof of their academic achievements. These reports can be used for admission into programs, credit transfers at post-secondary institutions or to meet the educational requirements for a professional licence. 

In response to the Afghanistan crisis, World Education Services will now provide evaluations for 31 different universities in Afghanistan and will evaluate education completed before Aug. 15, 2021, but not between 1996 and 2001.

“The undergraduate admissions team is committed to and creating pathways for all international students, particularly those who are facing extraordinary circumstances,” says Julie Hummel, associate registrar in Recruitment and Admissions. “Our experienced and credentialed staff approach each of these individuals and their circumstances thoroughly and carefully. As with all admissions decisions in these instances, we will consider any and all information that ensures students are set up to be successful at Laurier and then will work closely with our colleagues at Laurier International to continue the support.”

Find out more about applying to Laurier as a refugee or displaced or protected person.

For more information about the Gateway Program, and to see if you’re eligible, please contact Jennifer Williams, international admissions coordinator, at jennwilliams@wlu.ca.

Laurier’s Faculty of Music, along with community stakeholders, are also working to sponsor musicians and their families from Afghanistan to come to Canada, as musicians are a particularly persecuted group under Taliban rule.