The Gaza students with scholarships to UK unable to take up their places
Abdallah, 27, has been awarded a Chevening scholarship, part of a UK government-funded global scholarship programme, and has a place to study for an MSc in data science and artificial intelligence (AI) at Queen Mary University of London.
'Just two weeks after earning my medical licence in 2023, the war broke out. I chose not to flee. Instead, I volunteered in local hospitals, treating the wounded while my own family suffered nearby.
'I soon realised that bandages and medicine cannot heal a nation so deeply traumatised. We need more than emergency care – we need innovation. That is why I applied to study data science and AI in the UK.
'I am driven by desperation and hope. Gaza is facing an unprecedented mental health catastrophe. Nearly every child and adult has been exposed to intense trauma, displacement or loss. Yet Gaza's mental health infrastructure has been completely shattered.
'To fight a crisis this massive, I need world-class training. Once I complete my degree, I will return to Gaza to lead the creation of data-driven health systems that prioritise mental wellbeing.'
Israa, 31, is a Palestinian doctor who has been awarded a Medical Research Council doctoral training partnership to do a PhD in sexual and reproductive health at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, where she previously completed a master's in international public health.
She said: '[Studying in the UK was] a transformative experience that gave me a global perspective and strengthened my resolve to serve the most vulnerable people. I returned to Gaza by choice to serve, to heal and to uplift. A few months later, the brutal war started.
'I now work supporting women, girls, adolescents and displaced communities. I was supposed to start my [PhD] studies in October 2024, but the award was deferred to this October. I am calling for immediate action to evacuate UK scholars and professionals from Gaza, not only for my safety but for the future I represent.
'My work, my voice and my life matter. I am not only a doctor or a student, but I am also a survivor, a woman, a wife and a human being who has dedicated her life to health equity and justice.'
Israa added: 'It is not easy to guarantee we will be alive next week. The more we accelerate the efforts [to evacuate the students] the better for us.'
Khulud, 28, is another Chevening scholar with a place at University College London to study for a master's degree in dental health. After completing her dental degree at the University of Palestine in 2020, she worked in clinical dentistry while training others.
When the war began, Khulud opened a clinic with her brother, offering free dentistry, general medicine, paediatrics, nutrition, and psycho-social care to more than 20,000 displaced people.
'These experiences didn't just shape me – they saved me,' she said. 'Even in the darkest moments, there is light in service, and hope in community.
'The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. There are continuous attacks, mass displacement and severe shortages of food and medical supplies. Thousands have died and many more are at risk. I cannot say with certainty that I'll still be alive in 2026.
'Losing this scholarship and the resources I've secured would be devastating. Emotionally, it would extinguish one of the few hopes that keep me resilient. Academically, the programme might not be available again. Most importantly, it would deny Gaza a health professional determined to return and help rebuild.'
Majd, 24, a mechanical engineer from Gaza, has a full scholarship to pursue a master's degree in advanced manufacturing systems and technology at the University of Liverpool.
He said: 'Life during the war has been extremely difficult. I've been displaced, with no stable electricity, internet or basic services. Every day is full of uncertainty and worry.
'Most industrial facilities in Gaza have been destroyed, which means there's almost no equipment or resources left to work with. The lack of electricity, fuel and basic infrastructure has made it nearly impossible to continue any kind of engineering work.
'The UK offers world-class education with excellent research and teaching. Studying there will give me access to resources that will improve my knowledge in advanced technologies. This international experience is vital for me to develop the skills needed to contribute meaningfully to Gaza's future reconstruction.
'I want to use what I learn to create job opportunities, empower youth and help rebuild infrastructure that supports long-term stability and growth in Gaza after the war.
'I fully understand that the UK has visa systems in place for important reasons, and we are not asking for special treatment. However, this is an extraordinary situation. We ask for consideration and support to enable us to continue our studies as education will be key to rebuilding Gaza.'
Abeer, 28, has a place to study for an MA in data and health science at the University of St Andrews. 'After our home was destroyed in the winter of 2023 we moved into an Unrwa school. After three days there the school was heavily shelled.
'The bombing was violent and horrific. My brother Mohamed was badly injured, his feet caught underneath the falling rubble. He could not walk or move. We had to carry him south to Khan Younis, where we lived in a tent.
'It was here that we lost Mohamed. He never recovered from the injury at the Unrwa school. His loss caused our whole family to collapse. I felt my heart had stopped pumping. I lost my will to live, life lost its meaning.
'It was not long after that my older brother reached out, and reminded me that I had wanted to apply for a scholarship at St Andrews. 'Hardship should not stop you,' he told me. 'This is what you wanted before, you must persist.'
'Coming from Gaza I have seen the need for better healthcare solutions, and this programme and its modules offer the knowledge I need to make a real impact on healthcare.'
Samah, 25, a medical laboratory specialist at al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, has been accepted to study for an MSc in genomic medicine at the University of Oxford. She did not wish to share any photos of herself.
'From the first day of the ongoing war in Gaza, I have been on the frontline, working under extremely difficult and life-threatening conditions. Our hospital, like many others, faced mass casualties on a daily basis. We lost most of our laboratory equipment due to targeted attacks and destruction, yet we continued to serve patients.
'As the war progressed, I witnessed families resorting to burning hazardous materials just to cook food for their children. This prolonged exposure to potentially carcinogenic agents made me realise the urgent need to understand the long-term biological and genetic impacts of such conditions.
'Motivated by this experience, I decided to pursue advanced study in the field of medical genetics and cancer research.
'This opportunity is not just an academic pursuit for me, it is a mission to bring hope and healing back to a devastated community.'
A government spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the students and are considering the request for support. Clearly the situation on the ground in Gaza makes this challenging.'
These accounts were compiled with the help of the UK Coalition for Students in Gaza
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