by Gianluca Palombo
The Our Grades Not Visas campaign evaluation showed what’s possible when communities lead the fight for justice, and how proper collaboration with lawyers can help shift the dial to access rights.
Today, we’re proud to launch the evaluation report of the Our Grades Not Visas campaign – a movement that combined grassroots organising with strategic legal action to win education rights for young people across Scotland.
From one student’s story to national change
In 2021, Ahmed Alhindi, a straight-A student in Scotland, was told he couldn’t access the same tuition fee funding for university as his friends and peers. The reason? Despite spending many of his formative years in Scotland, Ahmed had been told he did not meet the arbitrary and harmful ‘long residence’ criteria. His experience echoed that of Ola Jasim, who with the help of JustRight Scotland was challenging these same unfair tuition fee rules through Scotland’s highest court.
When Ahmed’s story connected with Maryhill Integration Network and JustRight Scotland, it sparked something powerful. Together, we launched Our Grades Not Visas – a campaign that would go on to achieve a landmark victory by 2023, with residence requirements reduced and tuition fee coverage secured for many previously excluded young people, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and the children of people seeking asylum.
What the evaluation found
This new evaluation, drawing on participatory workshops, surveys, interviews, and a desk-based review, documents how the campaign succeeded where it did and what we can learn for future advocacy work.
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Community leadership was key
The young people and families affected by these unjust rules weren’t just beneficiaries of the campaign – they were front and centre driving it forward. They pushed for goals more ambitious than we first imagined possible, including extending tuition rights to children in asylum-seeking families. This ambition became reality because the campaign created safe, inclusive spaces and removed practical barriers to participation.
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Legal strategy and grassroots action strengthened each other
Ola Jasim’s successful Court of Session case wasn’t just a legal strategy – it was backed by community voices and storytelling that made the injustice visible. Ahmed and Ola’s own narratives shaped and amplified the campaign, ensuring credibility in both courtrooms and public debates.
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The work built on years of advocacy
Our Grades Not Visas didn’t start from scratch. It was built on years of work by migrant and refugee people and the community organisations representing them – and it quickly connected with unions and universities. These networks gave the campaign resilience and legitimacy, enabling it to scale quickly and reach national attention.
There is still work left to do
While celebrating what was achieved, the evaluation also highlights what still needs to change:
- Implementation gaps mean legal change hasn’t yet guaranteed real access to university and college tuition for many eligible people. Confusing and inconsistent guidance continues to create a postcode lottery.
- Systemic barriers remain, including exclusion of asylum-seeking people who apply to study when over 18, financial obstacles beyond tuition fees, geographic inequality, and under-recognition of overseas qualifications.
- Responsibility needs to shift from community organisations to state institutions when it comes to implementation and support related to education access.
What happens next
The evaluation sets out clear recommendations for campaigners, lawyers, and policymakers, including:
- Put communities at the heart of every campaign
- Make tuition support available to all people seeking sanctuary/asylum
- Expand sanctuary scholarship offers to people seeking asylum, which provide wrap-around living support, not just tuition-fee coverage
- Hold institutions accountable for implementing pre-existing and new rights
- Build a fair, sustainable funding system – one that’s based on rights and ensures education in Scotland works for everyone
A toolkit for future campaigns
As part of the evaluation report, we’re launching a Community Lawyering Toolkit that distils actionable strategies for campaigners, lawyers, and community groups working on similar issues. You can find the Toolkit at page 25.
What have we learned?
The Our Grades Not Visas campaign demonstrates what is possible when communities most affected by injustice lead the fight, supported by committed legal allies. It achieved real change – shifting law and policy, building confidence and skills, and creating a stronger network for future action.
But for education in Scotland to be truly equitable, legal victories must be followed by systemic reform. This means implementation, investment, and recognition of education as a right for all who call Scotland home.
- Download the full evaluation report and Community Lawyering Toolkit here
- Download the Executive Summary of the report here
The evaluation was conducted by Gianluca Palombo, Bryony Nisbet, Dr Helen Baillot, Mohammad Alkhatib, and Mohamed Mansaray, with support from JustRight Scotland and Maryhill Integration Network. You can find a copy of the evaluation report on the #OurGradesNotVisas website.
