Duolingo is offering its Duolingo app and Duolingo English Test to students in Syria, after obtaining an exemption from US government sanctions. 

Dual nationals of Iran, Iraq, Sudan and Syria and VWP countries will no longer be allowed to travel to the US visa-free, under new anti-terrorism measures.

The Institute of International Education has created an Emergency Student Fund to support students from Syria and Yemen in need of urgent financial aid. It will provide emergency grants of $2,000-$5,000 each.

The European University Association has called upon policy makers and education institutions across the region to enable refugee students to gain access to higher education, suggesting that bridging programmes are provided or developed for them.

We have many, many Syrian clients, but mostly they go to Canada or the USA because they give them visas

Syrian students at UK universities say they are facing an “impossible situation” as funding for their studies dries up and some institutions are unable to cover the shortfall. Many fear that they will be unable to complete their studies and even sent home, where they could face torture or assassination.

The Institute of International Education has collaborated with the Illinois Institute of Technology and newly founded non-profit organisation Jusoor to raise funds for Syrian higher education students and scholars affected by the ongoing conflict in their home country. The funding will be channelled into funds that help both Syrian students abroad, and scholars at risk in Syria.

107 Malaysian students have been evacuated from Syria after the country’s 17-month old uprising intensified in Damascus last week. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said the students had been flown home in batches on Thursday and Friday while 15 had left of their own accord. Ironically, eight chose to stay.