UK university rejects student for being Palestinian
A recent incident at a UK university has brought renewed scrutiny to the treatment of Palestinian students and the challenges they face in accessing higher education.
The University of South Wales (USW) has issued an apology after a prospective Palestinian student's application was initially denied.
The controversy began when the student, who has only been identified by her first name, Haya, received an email from the university stating, “Regrettably, no applications from Palestine are being considered at this time, therefore, your application has been withdrawn.” Haya's screenshot of the email was widely shared on social media, sparking global outrage and immediate public criticism.
In response to the public backlash, the University of South Wales apologized, calling the email an "administrative error." A university spokesperson told The Electronic Intifada outlet that they do not have a policy of automatically rejecting applications from Palestinian students.
University statement regarding an email circulating online about an international application. pic.twitter.com/gYRgDGb9pv
— University of South Wales (@UniSouthWales) September 2, 2025
The spokesperson explained that due to current visa processing timelines, the university was no longer accepting applications for the September 2025 entry from "many regions" and that Haya's application had been "mistakenly processed" as a 2025 application when it was for 2026.
The university confirmed that her application has since been reinstated and that they have contacted her directly to apologize.
The incident is the latest in a series of challenges faced by Palestinian students seeking to study abroad. A joint statement from UK human rights organizations in August highlighted the difficulties for over 40 students from Gaza who have been awarded scholarships to UK universities but are unable to fulfill visa requirements due to the closure of the Visa Application Centre in Gaza and 'Israel's' blockade. This situation, the groups argue, creates a "catch-22" that jeopardizes the futures of these scholars.
This comes amid a broader debate about freedom of expression and alleged discrimination at universities in Europe and the US In recent months, institutions in both the UK and Sweden have faced criticism and legal challenges for their handling of pro-Palestine activism on campus.
The US Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights even found that George Washington University may have discriminated against Palestinian students.
