Our stance on the UK Government’s Failure to Facilitate Access to Education
To our fellow students,
Over 70 students from Gaza who have gained places at UK universities are unable to begin their studies as the UK Government requires in person biometric enrolment, despite there being no Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Gaza. We are deeply concerned that a King's College London student and Chevening Scholar is affected by this.
Alongside 212 other elected officers from 75 different students’ unions, we have signed our names to an open letter addressed to the UK Government calling for immediate action regarding university offer holders. 114 MPs have put their names to a letter asking the government to defer biometric checks and facilitate safe travel for the affected students (1).
Whilst we welcome recent news that scholarship holders have been granted approval to study in the UK, we urge the UK government to act in line with its responsibilities and action this request for all students by excusing the biometric requirements. Guidance from the Home Office states that where travel to a VAC is unsafe and there are no viable alternatives, exemptions to the biometric requirements can be made. These criteria are met, as the situation in Gaza is deadly.
It is our responsibility to promote the interests and welfare of our students at all points in their student journey. KCLSU’s charitable purpose is the furtherance of education, with ‘Access to Education’ forming a key part of the KCLSU Agenda. As of August 2025, every single University in Gaza has been destroyed, leaving over 90,000 students without access to higher education (2). It is imperative that all blocks to education are dealt with swiftly and urgently.
We have engaged with King’s stakeholders and learned that the University has been actively involved in sector-wide lobbying, securing media attention and government backing to support Gazan students’ safe passage prior to yesterday’s UK government announcement. We have also met with the King’s Sanctuary team, to explore ways of widening access to education for students affected by war. Our firm commitment remains to work with the University to ensure that any of our students currently trapped in Gaza can continue and/or start their King’s education.
Over the coming year, we will collaborate closely with King’s teams, to identify opportunities for KCLSU and students to play an active role in supporting forced migrants’ access to education at King’s.
We invite all student groups with priorities aligned with access to education and widening participation to email us at studentofficers@kclsu.org. By amplifying our voices collectively, we can strengthen the call for urgent policy change that upholds the right to education for all.
We recognise that many of you may be feeling frustrated, angry, or betrayed by the ongoing inaction. Your concerns have been heard, and we will continue our lobbying and advocacy efforts to represent every member of our community. Be rest assured that we are using every avenue available to us to advocate for our affected peers, because education should never be inaccessible.
Signed,
Your Full-Time Officers
(President) Baiyu Liu
(Vice President Activities & Development) Dulcie Wainwright-Pilton
(Vice President Health) Hasnain Jafer
(Vice President Arts & Sciences) Maryam Jamil
(Vice President Welfare & Community) Fatima Hire
(Vice President Postgraduate) Sheeba Naaz
If you are feeling affected in any way and need support, please reach out to the following services that KCLSU and the University have to offer.