Western scholarships at elite institutions could be revoked for students from Gaza due to issues with documentation or visa difficulties
In the heart of the Middle East, the coastal enclave of Gaza has been ravaged by conflict since October 2023. The Israeli offensive has left a devastating impact, not only on the lives of its inhabitants but also on its academic infrastructure.
According to Scholars at Risk, an international network promoting academic freedom, Gaza's academic infrastructure is now "effectively devastated." As of now, all 19 institutions in Gaza lie in ruins, including major campuses like the Islamic University of Gaza, Al-Azhar University, and Al-Quds Open University. These institutions have either been bombed, leveled, or repurposed as Israeli military sites.
The conflict has claimed the lives of at least 64,600 Palestinians and wounded more than 163,300 others, as reported by Gaza's health authority. Famine has been confirmed in Gaza City, and by the end of September, it is expected to spread into Deir Al-Balah and Khan Yunis.
Amidst this chaos, dreams of education still flicker. Balsam, a 27-year-old Gazan student, has been fortunate to receive an unconditional offer to study a master's degree in artificial intelligence at Lancaster University. However, she is unable to leave Gaza due to closed borders, stalled visas, and ongoing war.
Similarly, Huthayfa, another Gazan student, received an unconditional offer to study city planning at the UK's University of Glasgow. Yet, he cannot leave Gaza due to closed crossings and Israeli bombardment. Students like Balsam and Huthayfa risk losing their scholarships if they cannot leave soon, as the academic year is already underway at many institutions.
The UK government has offered about 40 fully funded places, including the prestigious Chevening Scholarships, to Gazan students. The Home Office is in the process of putting in place "systems to issue expedited visas with biometric checks" for these students. A UK-based campaign, Gaza40, has urged the government to expedite the evacuation of these scholarship students due to the urgency of their situations.
Leaving Gaza also requires Israeli approval to exit and for onward travel through Jordan or Egypt to complete visa biometrics. The closure of Gaza's visa application center since October 2023 has made it difficult for students to secure the visas they need to leave.
Despite the hardships, Balsam and Huthayfa refuse to surrender their dreams of education and rebuilding Gaza. Balsam's goal is to design accessible learning tools for children in conflict zones who have lost access to classrooms. She dreams of a day when she can return to Gaza, armed with knowledge and the tools to help rebuild its shattered educational system.
Ceasefire talks remain fragile and inconclusive. By 2024-25, Gaza's higher education infrastructure had been largely destroyed. Urban areas in Gaza have been destroyed during the offensive, and the road to recovery seems long and arduous. But for students like Balsam and Huthayfa, the fight for their dreams continues.
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