THE University of Glasgow's response to a plea from Gazan students has been branded "disappointing" as time runs out for them to secure funding.
As previously reported by The National, a group of 16 students in Gaza have secured unconditional offers from the University of Glasgow after meeting its academic and English language requirements.
However, they say they have no realistic way of covering the cost of tuition, travel and living expenses and are calling on the university to assist them financially.
The students face an August 15 deadline to secure funding, with those unable to do so facing the prospect of remaining in Gaza.
With just days remaining, 20-year-old Abed Al Fattah Miqdad, who has an unconditional offer to study Computing Science and Business Management, told The National that the situation had not improved since he first spoke to the paper.
"Things haven't gone as we hoped. It feels like we're running out of time," he said.
"I am asking for your support. I am considering deferring until next year but that means another year here."
Al Fattah Miqdad previously described his offer from Glasgow as a potential "path out" after almost three years of Israel's onslaught.
Last year, a United Nations (UN) inquiry determined that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.
Since the start of the genocide, he says he has been displaced more than 16 times, lost both family homes and seen his family's businesses destroyed, all while continuing his education online from tents and temporary shelters.
He completed 65 university credits with an overall average of 89% before securing his offer from Glasgow.
He previously described to The National how his hope quickly gave way to fear when it became clear he could not afford to accept the place.
"Instead of being a big dream, it turned into a nightmare," he said.
The group of 16 students, who all hold offers to Glasgow University, is being supported in the UK by higher education worker Holly Dore, who has been contacting the university, politicians and other organisations in an effort to find a way for the students to take up their places.
Dore has now criticised the response she has received from the university, arguing that the funding options she has been directed towards do not address the circumstances facing the students.
According to Dore, she has been repeatedly directed towards the Higher Education Scholarship Palestine scheme, known as HESPAL.
However, HESPAL is aimed at Palestinian university academics and staff undertaking postgraduate study and does not provide a route for the majority of the students in the group, many of whom are seeking to begin undergraduate degrees.
Dore said: "That is what I find so frustrating. Students are being given unconditional offers from the university, yet there appears to be no meaningful consideration of how those offers can actually be taken up.
"Directing people towards a scheme for university employees seeking postgraduate qualifications feels more like a box-ticking exercise than a serious attempt to address the problem facing these students."
She added: "The offers themselves are wonderful achievements, but without financial support they risk becoming little more than symbolic gestures."
Dore argued that students from Gaza are being treated under the same funding framework as other international applicants despite the circumstances in which they are applying.
"These students have secured university offers through their own academic merit and determination, despite living through war, displacement and severe disruption to their education," she said.
"However, they are currently being assessed within the same funding framework as other international applicants, without recognition of the unique barriers they face."
She added that she and the students had begun looking ahead to funding opportunities for the 2027/28 academic year, but said it had been "soul destroying" to discover how few fully funded undergraduate opportunities were available.
Despite the difficulties, Dore said there had been some encouraging signs for the students.
One member of the public contacted Dore following The National's previous article and offered to provide accommodation and meals free of charge to one of the students for the entire duration of their degree.
Dore described the offer as an "extraordinary gesture".
"In many ways, it feels as though the public are ahead of our institutions on this issue," she said.
The University of Glasgow previously told The National: "As a University of Sanctuary, we are committed to ensuring that anyone from anywhere in the world with the drive, determination and ambition to pursue a degree has the opportunity to do so.
"We welcome the UK Government's decision to extend the Gaza Evacuation Scheme for 2026–27 and will continue to work with government and relevant agencies to support implementation of the scheme and the evacuation of those who meet the eligibility criteria."
The University of Glasgow has been approached for further comment.
