Victory for Gazan students: Home Secretary commits to expediting biometrics deferrals and student visa applications
Finnian Clarke, working alongside Sonali Naik KC, Maha Sardar and Maria Moodie of Garden Court Chambers, worked to secure this critical outcome for all Gazan students who are due to start fully-funded postgraduate courses at UK Universities this autumn. Many of these students are deeply motivated to pursue higher education to develop knowledge and skills in key areas such as healthcare and data science that will empower them to return to Gaza to rebuild their communities.
Due to the ongoing and worsening conflict and the absence of an operational Visa Application Centre in Gaza, these students sought expedited consideration of their student visa applications and requests for biometric deferral under the Home Office’s Unsafe Journeys policy. This would allow them to have their student visas approved in principle, enrol their biometrics in a third country en route to the UK and arrive in time for their academic courses.
The absence of an expedition process in considering these requests placed these students at risk of missing their course enrolment and losing their highly prestigious academic offers and scholarships.
The urgency of the humanitarian situation was underscored by warnings from the United Nations, the International Court of Justice, and the UK’s own representatives about the acute risk of famine, starvation, and collapse of essential services in Gaza. Without expedited action, there was a real danger that the students might not live to benefit from the outcome of their cases.
Following months of extensive Pre-Action correspondence that highlighted the perilous and time-critical situation of these students, the announcement made yesterday by the Secretary of State for the Home Department that assistance will be offered to this cohort is warmly welcomed. It was confirmed that the Government will expedite the student visa applications along with deferral of biometrics for students from Gaza who have been awarded fully funded scholarships at UK universities.
Speaking in the House of Commons on 2 September 2025, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP, stated:
“I can confirm the Home Office has put in place systems to issue expedited visas, with biometric checks conducted prior to arrival for children and their immediate accompanying family members. We have done the same for all the Chevening scholars and are in the process of doing so now for the next group of students who have been awarded fully funded scholarships and places at UK universities so they can start their studies in Autumn this year.”
Read the full speech here.
Critically, this commitment by the Government applies to all Gazan students who are due to commence fully funded academic courses in the UK this autumn. This outcome achieved by the legal team goes far beyond the individual expedition sought on behalf of the cohort of 40 students we have been representing (plus at least a further 17 for whom representations were being prepared) and marks a significant victory for all others similarly situated.
Yesterday’s announcement ensures that these students, who have shown extraordinary resilience and academic achievement in the gravest of circumstances, should be able to begin their studies in the UK this autumn.
The litigation strategy was supported and strengthened by the incredible work of the Gaza Scholarship Initiative (“GSI”), led by Dr Nora Parr, and two representatives of the Gaza students, alongside the UK Gaza community, who coordinated the students and lobbied extensively on their behalf.
Finnian Clarke was instructed by Nazia Khan (Director), Raman Kumar (Solicitor), Jessie Shepherd (Trainee Solicitor) and Auhona Majumdar (Caseworker) of Duncan Lewis Solicitors. This outcome would not have been possible without their extraordinary hard work.
This issue has been extensively reported in the press in recent weeks including in the BBC, The Telegraph, The Guardian (here and here) and The Evening Standard.
Finnian Clarke, alongside Sonali Naik KC, Maha Sardar and Maria Moodie of Garden Court Chambers, plan to host a seminar in the coming months to share knowledge and experience arising from these cases in relation to biometric deferral and predetermination requests with reference to the Home Office’s Unsafe Journeys policy.
