Refugee-Led Research Hub

What Refugee-Led Research Hub does

The Refugee-Led Research Hub (RLRH) is a nonprofit academic initiative founded in October 2020 and institutionally housed at the University of Oxford's Refugee Studies Centre, with its founding office at the British Institute in Eastern Africa in Nairobi. RLRH operates three programme streams: (1) academic programmes that support displaced learners' access to graduate degrees, including the flagship Graduate Horizons initiative connecting applicants to 500+ master's degree scholarships at 25+ universities, bridging courses, the Oxford Refugee Scholarship, and the Application Support Scheme (OGASS); (2) a refugee-led research agenda that enables displaced-affected researchers to lead primary and secondary studies in forced migration, supported through the RSC-BIEA Fellowship, OCH Fellowship, and a research publications portfolio; and (3) professional pathways including the Graduate Traineeship, professional placements with 60+ partner organisations, and career development resources.

The organisation serves forcibly displaced individuals — refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and internally displaced people — globally through nearly 1,500 affiliates. It has expanded operationally from Nairobi (2020) into Oxford (2021), Kakuma (2024), Oxfordshire (2024), Kuala Lumpur (2025), and Kampala (2026), with an active affiliate community in Amman, Jordan. RLRH does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its infrastructure is programme-based, leveraging partnerships with the University of Oxford, Carleton University's LERRN, BIEA, and UNHCR rather than a tech stack.

Revenue comes entirely from foundation grants, with the IKEA Foundation (renewed at £2 million in January 2025 for three years), Mastercard Foundation, Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation Global, and Porticus as disclosed funders. All programmes are delivered at no cost to participants. Leadership includes Research Leads Mohamed Hassan and Fardosa Salah, Director of Academic Programmes Oudai Tozan, and Director of Partnerships Ghazal Sarah Salehi, with a core team of 27 colleagues.

Name

Refugee-Led Research Hub

Legal name

Refugee-Led Research Hub

Website

https://refugeeledresearch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Refugee-Led Research Hub (RLRH) is a University of Oxford–affiliated nonprofit that supports forcibly displaced individuals globally through graduate education access (Graduate Horizons, 500+ scholarships at 25+ universities), refugee-led research, and professional career pathways, funded primarily by foundation grants including the IKEA Foundation (£2M in 2025).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Education Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee, Migration & Displacement Support (BPAGABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Immigrant & Refugee Workforce Integration Programs (EDAAAOAJ), Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE) (EDADALAG), Immigrant & Refugee Community Education (Integration/Navigation) (EDAAAFAH)

Keywords

• Refugee-led research
• Higher education access
• Graduate scholarship support
• Professional development training
• Displacement-affected scholarship

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxford, Oxfordshire

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants: RLRH operates as a non-profit initiative funded primarily by foundation grants. Major funders include the IKEA Foundation, Mastercard Foundation, Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global, and Porticus. The IKEA Foundation pledged £2 million in 2025 to support RLRH's expansion.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Refugee-Led Research Hub is a non-profit academic initiative of the University of Oxford's Refugee Studies Centre that delivers academic programmes supporting displaced learners' access to graduate degrees (Graduate Horizons, Bridging Courses, Oxford Refugee Scholarship), champions a refugee-led research agenda in forced migration through the Research Programme and RSC-BIEA Fellowship, and provides professional training and career development placements with humanitarian organisations via the Graduate Traineeship and Professional Pathways Programme. All services are offered free of charge to displacement-affected participants and are funded primarily by foundation grants.

Product overview

The Refugee-Led Research Hub (RLRH) operates as a multi-programme initiative rather than a technology product platform. Its core offerings include Graduate Horizons (connecting displaced learners with 500+ master's scholarships at 25+ universities), the Graduate Traineeship (six-month professional development), the OCH Fellowship (six-month social sciences research fellowship), and the RSC-BIEA Fellowship (12-month research fellowship). Supporting programmes include Academic Programmes with bridging courses, the Professional Pathways Programme with professional placements, RSC Pathways (online refugee studies course), and the Application Support Scheme for Oxford applications. The Research Programme champions refugee-led research. All programmes are designed to advance displaced individuals' access to graduate education, professional careers, and leadership in humanitarian sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 university applications submitted and 50+ offers secured through Graduate Horizons programme
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Carleton University's Local Engagement Refugee Research Network (LERRN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-led the RLOs in East Africa regional study with RLRH at Carleton University's LERRN and RLRH at University of Oxford, implementing research across 11 urban and camp/settlement sites.
• University of Oxford Refugee Studies CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRLRH is an initiative of the Refugee Studies Centre at Oxford, providing institutional affiliation and academic oversight.
• British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRLRH's physical base is in Nairobi at BIEA; collaborated on RSC-BIEA Fellowship programme and hosts offices at BIEA premises.
• World University Service of Canada (WUSC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with RLRH and Mastercard Foundation on report exploring refugee access to work permits and business licences in Kenya.
• 25+ Universities (Graduate Horizons partners)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUniversities worldwide participating in Graduate Horizons programme offering 500+ Master's degree scholarships to displaced scholars.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees): UNHCR is the UN agency mandated to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees and convenes the Global Refugee Forum where RLRH participates. Comparable as a broader incumbent in refugee higher-education advocacy (Connected Communities, DAFI scholarships) and the dominant convener of refugee policy globally.
• Institute of International Education (IIE): IIE manages the Scholar Rescue Fund and a wide portfolio of scholar-protection and exchange programmes for at-risk and displaced academics. Overlaps with RLRH's Graduate Horizons and Oxford Refugee Scholarship as a broader incumbent providing scholar placement globally.
• Open Society University Network (OSUN): OSUN is a global higher-education network that prioritises access for students from underserved and displaced backgrounds (Research Lead Mohamed Hassan is an alumnus of OSUN's Oral History Literature programme). Comparable to RLRH as a broader academic-network incumbent enabling displaced learners to access graduate study and research.
• HIAS: HIAS is a global Jewish humanitarian organization providing refugee resettlement, legal protection, and economic inclusion services; Fardosa Salah (RLRH Research Lead) previously worked as a Community Case Worker at HIAS Refugee Trust. Comparable to RLRH in combining displacement-affected professional pathways, livelihoods, and protection support.

Direct peers

• Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS): JRS operates globally to accompany, serve, and advocate for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people, with a strong focus on higher education access via the JRS Higher Education and Pathways Programme. Comparable to RLRH in combining education access, livelihoods, and advocacy for displaced populations.
• InZone (University of Geneva): InZone delivers higher education, research, and training to refugees and conflict-affected communities, anchored in the University of Geneva. Comparable to RLRH in combining university-affiliated academic pathways, research, and professional preparation in displacement settings.
• Carleton University Local Engagement Refugee Research Network (LERRN): LERRN is a refugee-led research network based at Carleton University that co-led the RLOs in East Africa regional study with RLRH. Directly comparable as an academic, refugee-focused research network producing policy-relevant scholarship in displacement contexts.
• Scholars at Risk: Scholars at Risk protects and supports scholars and researchers whose lives and work are threatened, and helps displaced academics find positions at host universities. Directly comparable to RLRH's Graduate Horizons and RSC-BIEA Fellowship in its focus on scholar protection, academic placement, and refugee-led research participation.
• World University Service of Canada (WUSC): WUSC runs the Student Refugee Program and refugee livelihood initiatives including work permits and self-employment programming. WUSC is an active RLRH partner (collaborated on the Mastercard Foundation-funded work permits and business licences research in Kenya) and overlaps directly on refugee higher-education access and livelihood pathways.

Emerging players

• RefugePoint: RefugePoint focuses on refugee self-reliance and durable solutions, partnering with UNHCR to match refugees to host-country opportunities. Comparable to RLRH's Professional Pathways Programme and Graduate Traineeship in preparing displacement-affected professionals for skilled employment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RLRH_Oxford
• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Refugee-Led-Research-Hub-RLRH/61557471065976/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/refugee-led-research-hub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Refugee-Led Research Hub