Published: 23 July 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online
Amid the devastating backdrop of ongoing conflict in Gaza, forty young scholars stand on the threshold of life-changing opportunity—yet remain trapped in a political and administrative gridlock that threatens to crush their dreams. These students, who have secured fully funded scholarships to study at prestigious universities across the United Kingdom, now face the grim possibility of missing their chance due to bureaucratic red tape and a lack of urgent governmental support.
At the heart of the issue lies the British government’s biometric visa requirement. Under normal circumstances, applicants are expected to submit biometric data at designated visa application centers. But for the students in Gaza, this is a near-impossible task. The only biometric centre in the region was shuttered in October 2023, and access to any alternative center in neighboring countries is blocked by ongoing hostilities and severe travel restrictions. As a result, these students, many of whom have already defied extraordinary odds to earn their places, are now stranded in a state of agonizing uncertainty.
Following mounting pressure from human rights advocates, universities, and members of parliament, a high-level meeting was held at the Home Office earlier this week to address the matter. Campaigners are demanding the immediate provision of biometric waivers for the affected students and the establishment of safe corridors to facilitate their travel to a third country where they can complete visa formalities.
The urgency of the situation is stark. Reports suggest that some students have already lost their lives while waiting. Others, including doctors, nurses, mental health professionals, and scientists, remain at risk daily as bombs fall and infrastructure crumbles around them.
Dr Nora Parr, a researcher at the University of Birmingham who is closely supporting the students, drew attention to the extreme challenges they have already overcome. “They studied under tents, connected to unstable internet, and sat for TOEFL exams amidst destruction,” she said. “To not act is to deny them the future they have worked so hard for.” Dr Parr also noted the chilling backdrop of a government immigration policy that appears increasingly hostile toward international students.
Other European countries—among them Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany, and Italy—have already intervened to ensure that students from Gaza with educational opportunities abroad can reach safety. The UK, however, remains silent in terms of concrete action.
Universities across the country, including Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews, Edinburgh, and University College London, have offered places to the students to study subjects as varied and vital as genomic medicine, dental public health, artificial intelligence, and trauma-informed maternal care. Many of these students, like 31-year-old midwife Soha, are deeply committed to returning home with the knowledge and skills needed to rebuild their war-ravaged communities.
Soha’s plea is both personal and symbolic. “I’ve delivered babies in shelters while bombs fell around us,” she said. “I’m not just seeking safety—I’m seeking tools to help others. When I return, I will train new midwives in evidence-based maternal care so that even amid crisis, childbirth can be dignified.”
Parliamentary voices are also rallying for change. Labour MP Abtisam Mohamed has been a leading figure in the campaign, calling on ministers to act decisively before more lives are lost. “These are not hypothetical dangers,” she said. “Some of these students are already dead. Every minute of inaction risks more.”
Universities have also added their weight to the cause. Dr Michael Spence, President of University College London, emphasized that helping these students is more than a humanitarian gesture—it is a commitment to the transformative power of education. “These students are among the most motivated and resilient we could ever hope to teach,” he said. “Their ability to reach our campuses would not only change their lives—it would enrich our academic community and show the world what education can achieve, even in the darkest times.”
In response, a government spokesperson offered only a brief and cautious note: “We are aware of the students and are considering the request for support.”
But for those stranded in Gaza with university acceptance letters in hand and the threat of death around every corner, time is fast running out. Each day that passes without action is not just a missed opportunity—it is a potential tragedy. The UK government now faces a simple yet profound question: will it choose humanity over hesitation, and give these students the future they have already earned?
