Prospective Student from Gaza Reinstated After UK University Admits Processing Error

University of South Wales Clarifies Admissions Policy After Gaza Email Controversy

In a development that has renewed global debate over institutional bias and access to education, a UK university was criticised for its handling of an international application from a conflict zone. The University of South Wales in the UK was reported to have apologised after a prospective student from Gaza was initially informed that her application would not be accepted due to her Palestinian nationality.

According to The Electronic Intifada, the applicant, identified only as Haya, shared a screenshot of the email she had received from the university’s admissions office on social media. The message, which stated that “no applications from Palestine are being considered at this time,” circulated widely and provoked international condemnation.  The original email, dated 1 September, explicitly stated that her study application had been withdrawn because applications from Palestine were not being accepted. Haya was quoted as saying that she felt appalled by the response, interpreting it as a rejection not merely of herself but of her homeland and her people. She explained that this sense of exclusion had compelled her to publish the exchange online.

Following media inquiries, the admissions office at the University of South Wales, UK, reportedly issued a clarification the next day. The institution explained that the communication had been sent in error, noting that Haya’s admissions application had been processed as an entry for 2025 rather than 2026, which was her correct submission. A university spokesperson further emphasised that the institution had no policy of automatically rejecting students from Palestine and confirmed that all college applications were assessed individually within the framework of the UK education system. They added that the university deeply regretted the mistake, had reinstated her application, and had extended a direct apology.

Haya, a 25-year-old graduate of Al-Azhar University in Gaza City, had applied to the master’s programme in health and public service management at the University of South Wales, UK, in addition to other UK universities and universities abroad. She stressed that pursuing higher education was particularly critical for students in Gaza, where Israeli military action had destroyed all major academic institutions. With limited opportunities left within Gaza, many students were said to be turning towards scholarships for higher education at universities internationally. Despite facing repeated displacement and restrictions on mobility, they continued to seek access through the UK study system, the United States of America university pathways, or universities across Europe.

Reports further indicated that while some universities abroad, including institutions in Ireland and other European states, had admitted or evacuated students from Gaza, entry into a university in the United States remained highly constrained. It was recalled that the administration of former US President Donald Trump had imposed strict visa limitations on holders of Palestinian Authority passports, thereby obstructing opportunities for university admissions in the US. In contrast, Ireland recently announced that it had facilitated the evacuation of 52 students from Gaza to study at universities internationally under scholarships for higher education.

Reflecting on her circumstances, Haya stated that although she and her family had been repeatedly displaced during the conflict, she was determined to continue her education. She reportedly told The Electronic Intifada that Gaza had once enjoyed distinguished universities and an environment rich in scholarship, but that war had destroyed those foundations. She underlined that even as Palestinians were enduring what she described as “the most heinous genocide in modern history,” students still carried ambitions and dreams which merited genuine opportunities to be realised through higher education and universities abroad. The incident serves as a stark reminder that, amidst war and displacement, the pursuit of education remains both a lifeline and a fundamental right.

Editor’s Note

The University of South Wales, UK, has apologised for an email sent to a prospective student from Gaza, stating that “no applications from Palestine are being considered at this time.” The message, shared widely by the applicant, Haya, provoked global condemnation and reignited debate over institutional bias and the barriers faced by students from conflict zones. While the university later clarified that the rejection was due to a processing error, mistaking her 2026 application for a 2025 entry, the damage was already done. In a region where all major academic institutions have been destroyed by Israeli military action, the pursuit of education abroad is not a luxury but a necessity. Haya’s case is emblematic of a wider crisis: over 40 Palestinian students awarded UK scholarships remain stranded due to visa processing delays and the closure of Gaza’s Visa Application Centre. Meanwhile, Ireland has evacuated 52 students to study under international scholarships, highlighting the disparity in institutional responses.

Skoobuzz asserts that students from Gaza are navigating more than academic pathways; they are navigating war, displacement, and systemic exclusion. In such a reality, higher education must serve as a bridge rather than a barrier. The right to learn cannot be determined by nationality, politics, or geography. Haya’s story is a reminder that the pursuit of knowledge is not only a personal ambition but also an act of resilience, resistance, and hope.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What happened between the University of South Wales UK and the student from Gaza?
A prospective Palestinian student named Haya was reportedly informed via email that her application would not be accepted because she was from Palestine. The message, shared publicly, sparked international criticism. The university later apologised and clarified that the rejection was due to a processing error.

2. Was there an official explanation from the university?
Yes. The University of South Wales UK stated that the email had been sent in error, as Haya’s application had mistakenly been processed for the 2025 intake instead of 2026. The university confirmed that it does not have a policy of rejecting applicants based on nationality and reinstated her application with a formal apology.

3. Who is Haya and what programme did she apply for?
Haya is a 25-year-old graduate of Al-Azhar University in Gaza City. She applied to the master’s programme in health and public service management at the University of South Wales UK, as well as other universities in the UK and abroad.

4. Why is higher education access critical for students in Gaza?
Due to ongoing conflict and military action, all major universities in Gaza have reportedly been destroyed. With limited local options, students increasingly rely on international scholarships and university admissions abroad to continue their education.

5. Are other countries supporting students from Gaza?
Yes. Ireland recently facilitated the evacuation of 52 students from Gaza to study internationally under scholarship programmes. In contrast, access to US universities remains limited due to visa restrictions, particularly for holders of Palestinian Authority passports.

6. What broader issues does this incident highlight?
The case underscores the challenges faced by students from conflict zones in accessing higher education, including administrative barriers, visa restrictions, and perceptions of institutional bias. It also raises questions about how universities handle applications from politically sensitive regions.