Student campaigners at the University of Sussex are calling on the institution to take urgent measures to ensure the safe arrival of hundreds of Palestinians who have received offers to study at Sussex. According to the Friends of Palestine Society and the Sussex for Palestine campaign, 579 Palestinian students have been offered places at Sussex this year, including 421 who hold unconditional offers for Master’s programmes.
The majority are from Gaza, where every university has been destroyed since Israel’s ongoing assault began. Campaigners say these students have already faced extraordinary barriers to their education. In addition to the obliteration of higher education institutions in Gaza, students have been forced to study under the constant sound of drones, with bombardments regularly disrupting their work.
Access to electricity and the internet has also been intermittent, making it nearly impossible to prepare for further study.
In a letter addressed to senior leadership at Sussex, campaigners argue that these students should not be forced to overcome further financial and bureaucratic obstacles to take up their offers.
They have outlined five measures they believe the university should adopt:
1. Deposit waivers: Waive or delay the £5,000 deposit due on 12 September, so that offers are not revoked if students are unable to pay on time.
2. Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS): Issue CAS documents with- out requiring the deposit, in line with steps taken by other UK universities.
3. Tuition and living costs: Waive tuition fees and cover living expenses for Palestinian students with unconditional offers.
4. English language requirements: Provide flexible alternatives to standard English tests.
5. Fundraising: Appeal to the Sussex alumni network and extend fundraising efforts to the wider Brighton community to help finance students’ studies and living costs.
These measures were also outlined to Sussex’s wider student community via a social media post, released on the 4th of September. Here they appealed: “These students shouldn’t have to jump over any more hurdles. We need Sussex to act now.” Campaigners also asked societies and student groups to send the same email to the University to create a sense of pressure. Similar campaigns have emerged across the UK, with several universities already making policy changes in response to the crisis.
Campaigners at Sussex say that comparable action here would not only align with precedent but also send an important message about the University’s commitment to inclusivity and global solidarity.
According to the campaigners, several Palestinian students who were waiting for UK visas have already been killed in Gaza. Campaigners say that “At this critical juncture, where lives and academic futures are being destroyed daily, every effort Sussex makes can be lifesaving”.
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