Gaza Scholarship - Higher Educaton Scholarships for Palestinians (HESPAL) at Oxford Brookes University 2025

HESPAL Scholarship Overview

• The Higher Education Scholarships for Palestinians (HESPAL) is designed to support Palestinian scholars pursuing higher education in the UK.
• It covers key expenses such as academic fees (via a fee waiver), living allowances for master’s (12 months) and PhD scholars (3 years), as well as an arrival and thesis allowance.
• However, scholars are expected to cover additional costs, including travel, visa fees, health insurance, IELTS exam fees, and other unforeseen expenses.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be a Palestinian resident of the Occupied Palestinian Territories (West Bank, Jerusalem, or Gaza Strip).
• Be employed by a Palestinian university.
• Be nominated by their employer university.
• Commit to returning to their Palestinian university after completing their studies.
• Possess a valid IELTS certificate or another recognized English language qualification suitable for the chosen course.
• Individuals with disabilities or those displaced are encouraged to apply.

Application Process

• Applicants must identify UK partner universities and select their preferred programs.
• Apply directly to at least three programs offered by UK partner institutions.
• Submit an online HESPAL application with all required documents by the specified deadline.

Program Goals

• Launched in 2010, HESPAL seeks to develop the next generation of senior academics in Palestine, strengthen ties between UK and Palestinian universities, and create sustainable professional networks for career advancement.
• Since its inception, it has awarded 241 scholarships (132 female, 109 male) for postgraduate study (182 master’s degrees and 59 PhDs).