Gaza student appeals for help with Glasgow University place

Qusay Al-Reqeb graduated from high school in 2023 with a score of 97.4%, including a perfect score in physics, and dreams of studying computer science.

After his graduation he spent months honing his English skills to apply to universities abroad, and received an unconditional offer to go to Glasgow on the BSc Honours in Computing Science.

He has been awarded the World Changers Global Excellence Scholarship, which affords a discount on tuition fees for those who demonstrate excellent academic achievement before starting University.

While that will give him £10,000 off the cost of his studies and is, he says, "a huge honour", the fees run to £33,210 per year.

That is clearly unaffordable for a family living in a tent in Gaza, and Mr Al-Reqeb is hoping to find a sponsor for his start date in September.

He tells The Herald: "Like everyone else here, the war completely disrupted our lives. My family and I had to displace multiple times, and we eventually lost our home. Currently, we are living in a temporary tent.

"The daily routine is mostly focused on basic survival - finding clean water, managing food shortages, and dealing with the lack of proper shelter. It is a very difficult and exhausting environment to live in, both physically and mentally, but we are doing our best to hold on.

Qusay Al-Reqeb with family in Gaza (Image: Supplied)

"Yet, amidst the ruins and the sound of drones, I refused to let go of my textbooks.

"For me, focusing on my future was a way to stay grounded amid the chaos. Since we have no electricity and a very weak internet connection, I had to rely entirely on my phone to fill out applications and communicate, which often took hours just to send an email.

"I studied whenever I could, sometimes by candlelight or outside the tent during the day. My passion for Computing Science and my goal of studying AI kept me motivated to keep pushing forward.

"When I received the unconditional offer from the University of Glasgow, I felt an incredible sense of relief and joy. It felt like my hard work finally meant something despite the circumstances.

"When I received the email, I cried - not just out of joy, but out of the sheer impossibility of it. How can a young man who hasn't had a proper meal or a roof over his head in months reach the halls of one of the world's oldest universities?

"Being awarded the World Changers Global Excellence Scholarship alongside it was a huge honour. It gave my family and me a real sense of hope that a better future is still possible."

Despite having been accepted, the path forward remains a difficult one.

Qusay Al-Reqeb in Gaza (Image: Supplied)

First Mr Al-Reqeb must find a way to leave Gaza, which remains blockaded by Israel on air land and sea.

Students from the University of Glasgow and the University of St Andrews have set up a fundraiser to help allow Mr Al-Reqeb to pay his tuition fees and living costs, which is less than £200 away from the initial £13k goal.

He is also looking for a sponsor or an organization willing to support his academic journey and help cover the remaining tuition fees.

Having an official, fully-funded educational pathway will improve his chances of being allowed to leave Gaza via the Rafah crossing into Egypt.

From there he would need to secure a UK student visa, though that should be made easier by having an unconditional university offer and a partial scholarship.

Mr Al-Reqeb is also seeking to establish contact with international bodies who can help him to leave Gaza safely.

He says: "I feel a mix of hope and anxiety.  Knowing that I have a secured place at a world-class university is incredibly exciting, but the remaining financial gap for tuition and the logistics of leaving through closed borders are major obstacles. I started a crowdfunding campaign to help with relocation expenses, but it cannot cover the heavy academic fees.

"That is why I am urgently looking for an academic sponsor or an educational trust to bridge this final gap. I am just hoping to get the chance to finally sit in a classroom this September."

Qusay Al-Reqeb's crowdfunder can be found here. He is also seeking an academic sponsor, anyone interested can contact the author.