Higher Education Scholarships for Palestine (HESPAL)

About this scholarship

The HESPAL Scholarship is a joint award offered by the British Council and St Mary's University, Twickenham to help junior academic staff.

What it takes to get there

Student visa

• Proof of funds: £1,171 per month, for 9 months. (£1,529 per month in London.)official source

  This award does not say it covers living costs, so plan to show this amount yourself. The official page says a scholarship or sponsor letter can count as proof.

• Application fee: £558.official source
• Health surcharge: £776 per year of the visa.official source
• Usual decision time: about 3 weeks.official source
• From Gaza: the government says it will seek to help eligible students leave if the scholarship covers both course fees and living costs, and that leaving cannot be guaranteed. This award does not say it covers living costs, so it may not qualify for this support.official source
• A post-study work visa exists for graduates.official source

Visa facts checked on the official pages on 2026-09-27. Rules change; confirm on the official page before you pay or book.

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Frequently asked questions