The UK government has reversed an earlier policy and will now consider allowing partners and children of some Gazan PhD and master’s students to join them when they travel to study in the UK. Previously the evacuation support covered only the students themselves.
A government spokesperson said each dependant application will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants must meet standard student dependant visa requirements, including demonstrating they can cover living costs. The required maintenance funds are up to £6,120 for students based outside London and £7,605 for those studying in London. Visas will be available only for dependants of students on government-funded schemes such as Chevening scholarships, or for those enrolled in PhD and other research-based higher degrees.
Some prospective students had said they could not accept offers because leaving young children and other family behind in Gaza would be impossible. Manar al-Houbi, who had told the BBC she could not leave her three children and husband to take up a PhD place at the University of Glasgow, said she was deeply relieved by the change and hoped to be evacuated with her family soon. She added that academic women should not be forced to choose between family responsibilities and professional advancement and welcomed the decision as fair.
At least 75 Gazan students have arrived in the UK since the government began supporting evacuations for those holding fully funded scholarships last month. A third group of 17 students arrived on Monday. However, the BBC understands six students due to begin master’s courses in Glasgow will not be evacuated because they would arrive too late to start their studies this year. Dr Nora Parr, a University of Birmingham researcher who has coordinated support efforts, described the policy change as welcome but said she was devastated that those six students had lost their hard-earned places. The University of Glasgow declined to comment publicly but is understood to be willing to honour the places if the students can arrive in time for future enrolment.
The current evacuation support scheme runs until the end of the year and the government has not said what, if anything, will replace it after that deadline.
Background context: Israel launched military operations in Gaza after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 that killed around 1,200 people and left 251 others taken hostage, according to Israeli accounts. Gaza authorities run by Hamas report more than 65,000 people killed in Israeli strikes since then. A US-brokered ceasefire deal signed earlier this month included the return of 20 living hostages to Israel. Following accusations that Hamas violated the agreement by killing an Israeli soldier, Israel carried out a new wave of strikes; Gaza health officials reported at least 104 Palestinians killed on one recent night. These figures are reported by the respective sources and parties involved.
