THE Scottish Government has been urged to introduce a scholarship to enable Palestinians with offers to study at Scottish universities "as a matter of urgency".
In the run-up to the Holyrood elections, the SNP pledged to set up a Scottish scholarship for students from Gaza.
However, with the start of the academic year approaching, Palestinian students who have offers to study at Scottish universities are being left in limbo due to staggering tuition costs.
The National spoke with 20-year-old student Mohammad Ayyad, who has an unconditional offer to study a BSc in Artificial Intelligence at Glasgow University for the 2026/2027 academic year.
However, he has to source £33,210 in the next 24 days to cover tuition costs in order to be able to start his course next month – with other Palestinian students reporting similar circumstances.
A motion has now been lodged in Holyrood by Scottish Labour MSP Pauline McNeill, calling on the Scottish Government to introduce a "scholarship or equivalent support scheme" for Palestinian students.
The motion states that the tuition costs are "unaffordable for individuals and families affected by conflict and displacement", and that while some funds are being raised through crowdfunding efforts, this may be "insufficient".
It further notes that the SNP's pledge to introduce a scholarship "may not be introduced until 2027", and that this "risks excluding students who are due to begin their studies in the 2026-27 academic year".
The motion calls on the Scottish Government to "introduce, as a matter of urgency, a scholarship or equivalent support scheme to enable Palestinian students with offers from Scottish universities to take up their places this academic year".
Scottish Labour MSP Carol Mochan has backed the motion, along with Ariane Burgess, Cara McKee and Laura Moodie from the Scottish Greens.
Scottish Greens MSP Iris Duane told The National: “Before the election, the First Minister pledged to set up a scholarship scheme for Palestinian students if re-elected.
"Many universities across Scotland have long been proud of their sanctuary status, and we must provide the support needed for that status to be carried forward.
“People who have been subjected to any form of conflict, living under some of the most horrific circumstances, and in the case of Palestinians, having their entire lives destroyed by the ongoing genocide that the state of Israel is inflicting on Gaza, deserve any opportunity for freedom and a chance to rebuild their futures somewhere safely.
“To achieve that, the SNP Government must maintain the commitment they made and take action to make it possible, and the UK Government must ensure that safe routes of passage will be offered to vulnerable Palestinians.”
And sharing The National's reporting on Ayyad on Bluesky, Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer wrote: "Israel has destroyed every university and hundreds of schools in Gaza.
"Young Palestinians want to rebuild their homeland, but Scotland and the UK must play our part by hosting them here for their studies."
Education Secretary Mairi McAllan told The National: “The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza must end. This Government has consistently called for a sustained ceasefire and for those responsible for war crimes to be held accountable.
“We are providing humanitarian support to the people of Palestine, and have already pledged to deliver a new postgraduate Scottish Gaza Scholarship Programme. We are working with Scotland’s universities of sanctuary to do this."
McAllan added: “We have also repeatedly pushed the UK Government to extend the Gaza Student Support Scheme, which enabled 27 people on fully funded scholarships to study at Scottish universities last year.
"I am pleased that the UK Government has finally listened and that this scheme will continue so students from Gaza can have a path to safety and stability to continue their education. Scotland stands ready to support those students to come and study in our world-class institutions.”
