Research

Education Beyond Borders (EBB) has established a research community with an ongoing research agenda focused on forced migration, refugee education and refugee mental health, and their intersection with higher education. This community is made up of staff from across the University whose research interests align with this agenda.

Why our research matters

Through our research, we aim to better understand what makes higher education accessible when someone’s education has been disrupted. We pay attention to what students experience, what works (and what doesn’t), and where the system still creates barriers.

This research shapes how EBB works in practice, with research findings helping to inform:

  • how we design scholarships
  • the support we offer
  • the partnerships we build

Research projects and topics

We work closely with our community of EBB scholars and academic researchers to conduct research linked to displacement and education. Our research is not fixed to one theme but follows our EBB work. At the moment, that includes:

  • what helps students settle in and feel like they belong
  • the reality of moving into and through higher education after disruption
  • what happens after graduation – and how people move into work
  • mental health and wellbeing, including the longer-term impact of displacement
  • how universities design support – and where that works or falls short
  • digital and online routes into education for people who can’t travel
  • how partnerships can open up access, rather than complicate it

In 2025/26, EBB supported a small number of projects through a seed fund. These looked at things like:

  • creating space for students to share their experiences of higher education
  • mental health within displaced communities
  • how refugee families and schools navigate education systems
  • access to higher education in different global contexts
  • pathways into study and employment in Scotland

 


For 2026/27, we are particularly interested in the following areas and topics:

  • transitions into university and employment
  • student experience, peer support and belonging
  • digital access to learning
  • staff capacity and training
  • mental health over time

Get involved

If you are working on research related to displacement and higher education, or are interested in connecting your work to Education Beyond Borders, we would like to hear from you. Opportunities to engage include:

  • collaborating on research linked to EBB
  • contributing to the Research Community
  • applying for future EBB research funding

Contact EBB at educationbeyondborders@ed.ac.uk.

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