UK to Host 40 Gazan Students on Funded University Scholarships

By Kai August 28, 2025
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The United Kingdom has confirmed plans to welcome around 40 students from Gaza to take up fully funded places at British universities, despite the severe challenges of arranging their safe passage.

Of the cohort, nine students will arrive through the government’s prestigious Chevening programme, which supports future leaders from across the globe to pursue one-year master’s degrees in the UK. The remaining 30 hold scholarships through other international schemes.

“We are working urgently to support Chevening Scholars in Gaza who have offers from British universities,” a government spokesperson said, adding that efforts were underway to ensure their safe exit from Gaza and onward travel to the UK.

The announcement comes after a campaign led by Abtisam Mohamed, Labour MP for Sheffield Central, who warned that more than 80 Palestinian students risked losing their places due to bureaucratic hurdles and the ongoing conflict. “Stranded, many students feared they would die under Israel’s bombs before being able to take up their university places,” she said.

One key obstacle has been the UK Home Office’s requirement that all visa applicants provide biometric data, including fingerprints and photographs. With Gaza’s visa office shut amid the war, many students were unable to comply. Reports suggest exemptions have now been made, allowing students to complete these checks in a third country before entering the UK.

Matt Foster, chief executive of the Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara), welcomed the development. He stressed that beyond students, academics must also be supported, given the destruction of Gaza’s universities and the reported deaths of over 200 academics. “Their skills will be critical to rebuilding the education system in Gaza,” he said.

Advocacy groups such as Scholars at Risk have echoed these calls, urging governments worldwide to facilitate safe passage for students and scholars with placements abroad. They argue that safeguarding education is essential, not only for individuals’ futures but also for Gaza’s long-term recovery.

While challenges remain, the UK’s decision to host 40 Gazan students has been widely welcomed as a step towards preserving education opportunities for those whose academic futures have been shattered by war.

Source: THE PIE NEWS

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