'Extending the welcome', a symposium convened in March 2019, brought together participants from a dozen countries across public, private and academic spheres to discuss the education gap faced by refugees and displaced people and what universities can do to help bridge that gap. Through a discussion of findings and best practice from already established programmes, participants identified common themes that need to be addressed and developed recommendations for universities that are working to widen the participation of refugees and displaced people at their institutions. The event brought together academics, policymakers, students and partners working in the area of refugee higher education and included participants from across the global north and south, with representatives from origin, transit and destination countries present. Programmes currently working on this issue were showcased, including projects operating in Bangladesh, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta and Uganda, among others. Event participants identified gaps in this area of work and developed recommendations for how the higher education sector could strengthen its response. The key issues identified included financial barriers, structural barriers, the recognition (or lack thereof) of prior qualifications, the additional obstacles faced by refugee and displaced women, and the impact of trauma and mental health issues on educational progression and overall wellbeing. [The symposium was convened by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) in partnership with the University of Edinburgh and the British Council.]