(Image Credits: Layla Roberts)
Students came together and held a static demonstration on West Campus in order to kick-start their campaign to waive the tuition fees of two students from Gaza. The two students reached out to York students in September 2026 in an attempt to receive help attending the university. One of the students, Mahmoud AlDabba, is currently in Gaza and holds an offer for MSc Engineering Project Management, but due to the high tuition fees of the University of York he is stuck in Gaza.
The University of York is part of the HESPAL scheme which offers one (previously three) Postgraduate taught Gaza student a scholarship to study at the University. However the conditions of this scholarship involve the student to be employed by the university they attend in Gaza. This is an impossibility for AlDabba as his university (The Islamic University of Gaza) has been destroyed by the ongoing conflict meaning he cannot be employed by his university.
Another student (who wishes to remain anonymous) is currently undergoing treatment in Spain for a leg injury they obtained in the conflict, but after this treatment they will be forced to return to Gaza.
Students were gathered for over an hour in Greg’s Place chanting and hearing speeches about those students who want to attend the University, hoping for their pleas to be heard. The event happened on a prospective student open day, with student ambassadors directed to divert visitors from the demonstration and emphasise that the University of York values student voices.
An Anonymous Student Ambassador stated that “During the morning brief, they acknowledged that the demonstration was happening, that the university was aware and that campus safety would be around Greg’s place around noon. During the brief, ambassadors were told not to tell parents or prospective students what the demonstration is for and to instead focus on how important the university thinks student voice is, and if parents, visitors, prospective students have any more questions on what it’s about to direct them to Spring Lane where they can talk to our supervisors instead.”
A University spokesperson said: “As a University of Sanctuary, offering educational opportunity and support to students and academics fleeing conflict is extremely important to us. We have already provided dedicated scholarship support to two Palestinian students and an alumnus now pursuing a PhD in the UK. We know how much this matters and we’re working through this incredibly complex situation to find new ways to help where we can, and respond to the urgent cases and concerns raised by our students.”
The protest was organised by YSAN (York Student Action Network) a collective of students and staff activists at the University of York fighting for social, climate, economic, and racial justice. They stated at the event ‘We will do everything in our power to make sure these needs are met.’
Students who apply for an asylum seeker scholarship at the University, require applicants to have applied for asylum seeker status in the UK before they apply to the university. This leads to prospective students having to spend a vast amount of time and money into the process with no guaranteed place at a University.
The students are calling for change and a fair access to education for all, will they be heard?