• Scholars were recognised at pre-departure gathering in Ramallah – the group includes seven women and five men, with four scholars from Gaza
• Representing six Palestinian universities, they will pursue studies at eight UK institutions
The British Council in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is proud to announce the latest cohort of scholars awarded the Higher Education Scholarship for Palestinians (HESPAL). Marking HESPAL’s 15th anniversary, twelve outstanding Palestinian academics will begin their postgraduate studies in the UK this October as part of the 2025–2026 academic year.
The scholars were recognised at the annual pre-departure event held on last week in Ramallah. The evening brought together HESPAL alumni, university representatives, funding partners, and British Council staff for a moment of connection, encouragement, and community-building. It offered the new cohort the chance to network with the alumni and partners, and to prepare for the academic and personal journey ahead.
In her opening remarks, Shahida MacDougall, Country Director at the British Council in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, said:
‘We strongly believe in the transformative power of education to help communities heal, rebuild and recover and HESPAL is as a powerful testament of such power. We look ahead to the day when HESPAL scholars, especially those from Gaza, return to take part in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the rebuilding academic institutions for the ultimate benefit of their communities across Palestine.’
The new group of scholars includes seven women and five men, four of whom are from Gaza. They represent six Palestinian universities and will be studying across eight universities in the UK. Each scholar will pursue a master’s degree in a range of disciplines including STEM, medical studies, urban planning, and emerging technologies.
Dr. Samir Jarrad, Representative of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, reaffirmed in the event the Arab Fund’s strategic partnership with HESPAL, highlighting the Fund’s longstanding commitment to investing in the higher education sector as a pathway to national development. He commended the calibre of this year’s scholars, the strong presence of women in the cohort, and the relevance of the subject areas being pursued—particularly those that align with national priorities and the future reconstruction needs of Palestine. He also underscored the importance of sustained collaboration to ensure the programme’s continued impact and expansion.
The new cohort joins an existing group of 23 HESPAL scholars already studying in the UK across 13 universities. Ten of these MA students are expected to complete their studies end of September, while one scholar from Gaza will finish in January 2026. Twelve other HESPAL scholars are continuing their PhD studies as part of the programme.
Dr. Basri Saleh, Deputy Minister of the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education highlighted the alignment of HESPAL’s mission with the Palestinian National priorities for Higher Education, and emphasized the importance of the new subject fields and emerging technologies that HESPAL scholars are pursuing, noting that these areas of study are essential not only for meeting the current and future needs of universities in the West Bank, but also for rebuilding and revitalizing the devastated higher education sector in Gaza.
Reflecting on winning the scholarship, Mohammad Helles, an awarded scholar from Gaza, said:
"Like a phoenix, we rise from ashes. For me, the HESPAL scholarship is not just a scholarship, but rather a true opportunity to restart, grow, and redefine my path. I look forward to gaining world-class knowledge and forging lasting connections, so I can return to Palestine empowered to drive meaningful change in education and beyond."
Founded in 2010 and developed in partnership with Palestinian and UK universities, HESPAL is a unique scholarship scheme supporting the capacity-building of academics and the institutional development of higher education institutions in Palestine. In 2024, the British Council launched a new HESPAL track dedicated specifically to Gazan university academics and scholars in response to the war and destruction of the education system. This year, the programme marks its 15th anniversary.
HESPAL is made possible by the support of four key funding partners: the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, Pears Foundation, the Amjad & Suha Bseisu Foundation, and the UK Department for Education.
For more information, please contact: [email protected]
About the British Council
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2022–23 we reached 600 million people.
www.britishcouncil.org
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Twelve New Palestinian Academics Awarded HESPAL Scholarship to Study in the UK