Policy paper

Scholarships for students from Gaza

Updated 27 October 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-students-travelling-to-the-uk-from-gaza/scholarships-for-students-from-gaza

There are students in Gaza who have full scholarships to study in the UK who are unable to travel to begin their studies this autumn because of the situation in Gaza.

Support with visas

As set out by the former Home Secretary in her oral statement to Parliament on 1 September 2025, the Home Office has put in place systems to issue expedited visas, with biometric checks conducted prior to arrival for all the Chevening scholars from Gaza.

The Home Office has also done the same for students in Gaza who have been awarded fully funded scholarships and have places at UK universities, so they can start their studies in autumn this year (no later than 31 December 2025).

The Home Office is now also extending this support to dependants of those students who are able to meet the relevant requirements of the Immigration Rules.

Full details on eligibility are set out below.

Chevening scholars and those with fully funded, verifiable, scholarships starting in the autumn term have been prioritised in this way on the basis that the Home Office is assured that they meet the requirements of the Student visa rules, and given these students’ potential role in rebuilding Gaza in the future.

Support to exit Gaza

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will seek to support eligible students and their eligible dependants to try to exit Gaza and come to the UK.

The delivery of this support is reliant on a number of factors that are outside of HM Government’s control, requiring coordination with international partners. Exit from Gaza for dependants of students eligible under the Immigration Rules can only be implemented with international partners on a case-by-case basis.

While HM Government’s support will be offered to all eligible students and their eligible dependants, their journey out of Gaza and onwards travel to the UK cannot be guaranteed, and timelines remain uncertain. There also may be practical and safeguarding impediments for any child dependant to travel, where not accompanied by a parent.

Given recent developments in the region and the potential for alternative exit routes to open from Gaza, HM Government will keep the scope and delivery of support under review.

Student eligibility

To be eligible for HM Government’s support to try to exit Gaza and come to the UK under this approach, students must submit a student visa application, which will need to be sponsored by their university, and pay associated fees.

Students must:

  • be aged 18 or over
  • meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules
  • have an offer for a course starting no later than 31 December 2025

  • be supported by a fully funded and verified scholarship that covers both:

    • course fees
    • living costs

Eligibility of dependants

HM Government is now also seeking to support the eligible dependants of Chevening or fully funded scholarship students to try to exit Gaza. To be eligible to apply for this support, dependants of Chevening or fully funded scholarship students must submit a student dependant visa application and pay associated fees.

They must also:

  • be a dependant, as defined in the Immigration Rules namely the partner or spouse, or a child under 18, of a student who is either studying a PhD, doctoral qualification or research-based higher degree or holds a financial sponsorship or scholarship from a government, as defined in the Immigration Rules, and
  • the student they are accompanying was or is being supported to exit Gaza under this process, and
  • meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules, including to have verifiable funding in place (as set out in Appendix Finance of the Immigration Rules) to cover their living costs, up to a total of £6,120 for those studying outside of London, or £7,605 for those studying in London

Security checks

Robust security checks will be undertaken on all individuals who enter the UK through this process. Biometrics will be collected as part of the visa application process and prior to the final decision on granting entry to the UK as a student/student dependant.

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