Universities express concern over levels of rejections for visas for Gaza students

Zainab Eid and her four-year-old son Karim in the tent which is their home in Gaza. She had been accepted to study for a Master’s degree in Public Health at UCC under the Ireland-Palestine Scholarship Programme (IPSP), but was informed that her visa application had been refused.

Irish universities claim they immediately approached the Government with concerns “when the higher than previously observed levels of rejections of visas for students from Gaza first became apparent”.

Both academics and students have strongly criticised how visa applications for students in Gaza who secured either partial or full scholarships by Irish third-level institutions were handled.

The minister for justice is also facing potential legal action over the refusal of visas to students who expected to begin their studies here in the coming weeks.

Universities "have shared this country's horror at the appalling crisis in Gaza and its human implications, not least on young people”, said Paul Johnston, the director general of the Irish Universities Association (IUA).

“For that reason, we have strongly supported, and willingly participate in, all relevant schemes, not least the Irish Government's own Ireland-Palestine Scholarship Programme, as part of exceptional efforts by individuals and institutions across the tertiary sector.” 

The IUA is the representative body for University College Cork, University of Limerick, Dublin City University, Maynooth University, Trinity College Dublin, University of Galway, and University College Dublin.

Gaza students have 'suffered so much'

“When the higher than previously observed levels of rejections of visas for students from Gaza first became apparent earlier this summer, we immediately approached Government to express our concern and to seek clarification,” Mr Johnston added.

It is continuing to engage "at ministerial and senior official level, across a number of departments, given the importance of a whole-of-government approach", he added. 

“We will remain closely engaged, including across all the universities involved, given our shared goal to ensure that students from Gaza, who have suffered so much, can be supported to advance their education in Ireland and, ultimately, to contribute to a peaceful and prosperous future for the Palestinian people."

A spokeswoman for the Department of Further and Higher Education said it is aware of visa refusals for Palestinian students, and has “received correspondence from stakeholders in the higher education sector in relation to this issue". 

Officials are “continuing to liaise" with the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs, she said. 

“This department has no role in the consideration of individual visa applications or in any review of decisions relating to such applications,” she added.

'No change to the requirements'

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said: "There has been no change to the requirements to obtain a visa this year. Each application, regardless of nationality, is decided on its own merit." 

In 2025, the department received 164 Type D Long Stay Study visa applications from Palestinian nationals. It issued 114 Type D Long Stay Study visas to Palestinians and refused 22 applications.

Up to August 21, 2026, the department has received 130 Type D Long Stay Study visa applications from Palestinian nationals. In the same period, it issued 39 Type D Long Stay Study visa applications to Palestinians. In the same period, 103 applications were refused. 

"It should be noted that a decision issued in a particular year may relate to an application received in a previous year," the spokesperson added.