A Gazan student who received a full scholarship to study computer science in Ireland says being refused a visa was more devastating than the war he has survived. The case has renewed scrutiny of student visa decisions affecting Palestinians and raised questions about access to education for displaced students.
Gazan student says visa refusal ended hopes of studying in Ireland
Hazem Faris, a 19-year-old from Gaza City, was due to begin an undergraduate computer science degree at South East Technological University’s Waterford campus this month. He was one of three Palestinian students awarded full scholarships, but all three were refused visas in July.
Faris said the scholarship covered tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses. Despite that support, his application was rejected on grounds including insufficient documentation, financial evidence, gaps in his education or employment history, and a lack of proof that he would return home after completing his studies.
He is appealing the decision and says he remains hopeful that he will eventually be allowed to travel to Ireland.
Student describes life during the war
Faris said he continued studying despite severe hunger, repeated displacement and the destruction of his family home in Khan Yunis. His family is now renting a damaged property in Gaza City without basic necessities.
He said most of his former neighbours were killed and that two friends also died. One was killed in an air strike, while the other was among people killed near a flour aid truck, according to Faris’s account.
“The war could not break my spirit, but the visa refusal did,” he said, describing the decision as the worst feeling he had experienced.
Why the visa application was refused
The correspondence relating to Faris’s application cited several concerns. These included what officials considered insufficient documentation showing access to funds, despite the full scholarship, and inadequate evidence explaining interruptions in his education and employment history.
Faris said those gaps were directly connected to the war in Gaza. He also questioned how he could provide conventional evidence of strong ties to a home country where his community has been devastated and where conditions remain unstable.
The case highlights the difficulty displaced applicants can face when immigration systems require standard records, financial documents and travel evidence that may be difficult or impossible to obtain during an active conflict.
Palestinian student visa refusals rise
Figures supplied by the Department of Justice show a sharp increase in refusals of student visa applications from Palestinians. The number of refusals rose from 22 in 2025 to 115 so far this year, while 50 student visas have been granted this year compared with 114 in 2025.
The figures form part of the wider Ireland News debate about how the State handles applications from people affected by war, displacement and the collapse of public services. They also come as Irish universities develop scholarship and sanctuary initiatives for students unable to safely continue their education at home.
SETU sanctuary group questions the refusals
Sarah Sartori, chairwoman of SETU’s sanctuary initiative, said there had been a legitimate expectation that the three scholarship recipients would be able to attend the university. Two of the students were due to begin master’s degrees.
Sartori said no apparent changes had been made to the visa process since the previous year, leaving the group unable to explain the increase in refusals. She said supplies had been prepared for the students and described the decisions as deeply upsetting.
Her comments reflect concern among education and sanctuary advocates that scholarships can create expectations that are not matched by immigration outcomes. A funded place at an Irish university does not automatically guarantee permission to enter the State, but applicants and institutions may still view the award as a basis for serious consideration.
Department of Justice response
The Department of Justice said it could not comment on individual applications. A spokesperson said each case is assessed on its own merits and that appeals were being processed as quickly as possible.
That response means the final outcome of Faris’s case remains uncertain. His appeal will determine whether he can take up the scholarship and begin his studies in Waterford, or whether the opportunity will be lost because the academic year has already started.
What happens next?
Faris is waiting for a decision on his appeal. The university and its sanctuary programme will also face practical questions about whether his place can be held and whether travel arrangements can be made if permission is granted.
The case may also add to calls for clearer guidance when visa applicants are from conflict zones. Key issues include:
- How applicants can document education disrupted by war.
- What evidence should be accepted when homes, records and financial systems have been destroyed.
- How fully funded scholarships should be assessed in student visa applications.
- Whether displaced students require a process tailored to exceptional humanitarian circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Hazem Faris?
Hazem Faris is a 19-year-old student from Gaza City who was awarded a full scholarship to study computer science at SETU’s Waterford campus.
Why was his Irish visa refused?
The stated reasons included insufficient documentation, concerns about financial evidence, unexplained gaps in his history and insufficient evidence of strong obligations to return home.
Was his study fully funded?
Yes. Faris said the scholarship covered tuition, accommodation and living expenses.
Has he appealed?
Yes. He is awaiting the outcome of an appeal.
Why this case matters for Ireland
Faris’s experience sits at the intersection of Irish immigration policy, higher education and the humanitarian consequences of the Gaza conflict. It also raises a practical question for universities: when institutions offer sanctuary scholarships, how can they ensure that successful candidates have a realistic route to enter Ireland?
For Faris, studying in Ireland represents more than a degree. He said he hoped the opportunity would allow him eventually to contribute to Gaza. Until his appeal is decided, that ambition remains suspended.
The clearest takeaway from this Breaking News Ireland story is that a scholarship alone may not overcome the documentary and immigration barriers facing students from war zones. Faris’s appeal will now determine whether his place at SETU becomes a route to rebuilding his future or another opportunity lost to the consequences of conflict.
