The government has approved plans to allow approximately 40 students from Gaza to travel to the UK to begin funded university scholarships.
Some nine of these students will come through the prestigious Chevening scheme, a government-funded scholarship program that enables future leaders from around the world to pursue one-year master’s degrees at UK universities.
“We are working urgently to support Chevening Scholars in Gaza who have offers from British universities to leave and take up their places in the UK,” a government spokesperson said in a statement.
“We are doing everything we can to support their safe exit and onward travel to the UK, but the situation on the ground in Gaza makes this extremely challenging.”
According to the BBC, it is understood that the Home Secretary has also approved plans for the additional 30 students holding fully funded scholarships through various private schemes.
The PIE understands that the government is aware of other students with university offers and is considering additional requests for support.
The news follows a campaign led by Abtisam Mohamed, Labour MP for Sheffield Central and co-chair of APPG International Students, that gained traction, detailing the situations of more than 80 Palestinian students who hold offers from UK universities this year but faced significant bureaucratic barriers.
“Stranded, many students feared that they would die under Israel’s bombs before being able to take up their university places,” wrote Mohamed on X.
The UK Home Office rules state that all individuals must submit biometric data such as fingerprints and formal photos before it will issue a visa. However, with Gaza’s visa office shut due to the war, prospective students are unable to do so and plans have been stalled.
The call, urging the government to evacuate all UK scholarship students from Gaza without exception, was backed by over 100 parliamentarians.
The PIE understands that all individuals, including those covered by the recent decision, who enter the UK are subject to robust security checks and will have to submit their biometrics ahead of travel. However, an article by Sky News has suggested that special exemptions have been made, allowing the cohort of students to have their biometric checks carried out in a third country before they travel to the UK to take up their university places in September.
Matt Foster, chief executive of the Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara) told The PIE he was “encouraged” to read the news that those awarded fully funded placements will be supported rather than only the nine Chevening scholars.
“This should include the academics who have been been awarded places at UK universities where funding is in place – this includes three Cara Fellows,” he added.
It is critical that we protect academics in Gaza to save their lives and because their skills will be critical to support the recovery and eventual rebuilding of the education system in Gaza
Matt Foster, Cara
“The 12 universities in Gaza have been destroyed and estimates of 200 hundred academics killed in what is believed to be the direct targeted of academics and academic institutions. It is critical that we protect academics in Gaza to save their lives and because their skills will be critical to support the recovery and eventual rebuilding of the education system in Gaza,” said Foster.
Cara’s own efforts to support those in Gaza are ongoing, having received over 100 applications from academics in the region. However, the organisation cannot move forward with this volume of requests “until there is a prospect of a safe pathway out of Gaza,” said Foster.
“We are also now assessing the feasibility to support the academics remotely who will not be able to leave – but this will only be strengthened by ensuring a group of academics can support this.”
While not directly involved with the evacuation of this cohort of students to the UK, a spokesperson from Scholars at Risk (SAR) also spoke with The PIE.
“We welcome the news of these students being able to continue their education in the UK and encourage all higher education institutions to consider how they are able to help Palestinian students and scholars to continue their studies and research, given that Gaza’s higher education infrastructure has been largely destroyed,” the spokesperson said.
The organisation is encouraging other governments to increase efforts to permit the safe passage out of Gaza for students and scholars with waiting positions abroad “to enable the continuation of their studies and vital academic research”.
Ruth Arnold, executive director of external affairs at Study Group and a founder of the #WeAreInternational campaign described the news as a “milestone decision”.
“There are times when nations need to exercise judgment in the face of extreme circumstances, as is now the case on Gaza. Exiting a war zone is fraught with danger and upheaval, but those leaving behind their families and friends have shown an extraordinary dedication to education unimaginable to most of us,” said Arnold.
“It will take effort and imagination to adapt the processes to make this possible, but I know the community of higher education and the government are urgently seeking ways to make this work with many good people joining forces to make this happen.”
