Oxford University offer holders living in Gaza have told Cherwell that they feel “a deep sense of relief and hope” after the UK Government announced plans to approve visas for around 40 university-funded students living in the Gaza Strip.
These students include Gazans holding offers for the Chevening scheme, a predominantly government-funded programme for graduate students. Along with those on university-funded scholarships, they will receive assistance to leave the territory. The Home Secretary has also approved plans to assist around 30 students on privately-funded scholarships.
Loay, who holds an offer to study MSc Health Service Improvement and Evaluation at Oxford, told Cherwell: “After months of fear, uncertainty, and displacement, knowing that our academic futures may now be within reach is incredibly emotional. I am deeply grateful to everyone who supported and advocated for us.”
At least six students in Gaza and the West Bank hold offers to study at Oxford through the University’s Palestine Crisis Scholarship Scheme. These students, and other Gazans holding offers and scholarships to study in the UK, had been unable to provide biometrics necessary for obtaining a valid UK visa due to the closure of visa offices in the Gaza Strip in October 2023.
Only those in receipt of offers and scholarships for full-time study will be impacted by the government’s plan. Consequently, Cherwell understands that at least one Oxford offer-holder with a scholarship under the Palestinian Crisis Scholarship Scheme will remain in Gaza.
Yesterday’s announcement confirmed that offer holders for full-time study will be taken to a third territory for visa biometric tests before being brought to the UK. However, a government spokesperson told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme that “the process is likely to be complicated and challenging” and will require Israel to agree that each student can leave the territory. Oxford offer holders in Gaza told Cherwell that the government is yet to contact them about the approval of their visas.
A spokesperson for Oxford University told Cherwell: “The University is part of sector-wide efforts to support the arrival of students from Gaza and are in contact with our offer-holders who are facing the greatest difficulty. We hope to welcome several students from Gaza on full scholarships this autumn.”
The plan to approve the visas follows a public call from the UK higher education sector to remove the barriers facing students from Gaza, including an open letter signed by members of the Oxford University Student Union (SU) earlier this month.
Speaking to Cherwell, an SU spokesperson said that the “SU welcomes the government’s announcement”, adding that “this outcome underlines the importance of collective action” following the SU’s open letter.
Cherwell approached the Home Office for comment but they declined to answer.
