LONDON — More than 40 students from Gaza who were awarded prestigious scholarships to attend top UK universities are now facing the devastating possibility of being unable to claim their spots due to unresolved visa challenges. With the September academic term fast approaching, these students—accepted into institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge, and University College London—are unable to meet the UK Home Office’s requirement for in-person biometric data collection.
The primary obstacle stems from the closure of the Gaza visa center in October 2023, a direct consequence of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Border closures have further exacerbated the situation, making travel to alternative visa centers in Egypt or Jordan impossible. This has left the academic futures of these students hanging in the balance.
Among the affected is Malak, 19, who earned a full scholarship to study history and politics at Cambridge. Abdallah, 27, a Chevening scholar, is set to pursue a master’s in data science at Queen Mary University, and Israa, a 31-year-old doctor, was awarded a PhD scholarship in sexual and reproductive health at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Many of these scholars persevered with their studies despite living under constant bombardment and displacement, with the goal of returning to help rebuild Gaza’s devastated healthcare, education, and infrastructure sectors.
“We are running out of time,” Soha, a midwife hoping to study nursing at Ulster, told The Guardian.
The war has left Gaza’s 12 universities in ruins, displacing 90,000 students. Despite this, these scholars secured highly competitive awards, including the coveted Chevening and HESPAL scholarships.
Campaigners, including Jo Grady of the University and College Union, are urging the UK government to follow the lead of France, Ireland, and Italy, all of which have waived biometric requirements for their Gaza-based students. An open letter sent to Foreign Secretary David Lammy in May 2025 has reportedly gone unanswered, and there have been reports of some students being killed while they waited for a resolution.
The Home Office has acknowledged the issue but insists that biometric data is a necessary security measure for risk assessment. This stance is partly influenced by precedents like the U.S. deportation case of Palestinian scholar Mahmoud Khalil. However, Dr. Nora Parr, a researcher at Birmingham University, has called the prolonged delay a “de facto decision to abandon” these students.
As the new academic year looms, MPs and academics are ramping up pressure on the government to grant biometric deferrals and ensure safe passage for Gaza’s brightest minds, allowing them the opportunity to contribute to a future beyond the rubble.
