A scholarship turned into a dead end
Mariam al-Najar received news that she had been admitted to a master’s program in economics at the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio in Italy. For her, it was a rare spark of hope after years of despair. The offer from Italy was not just an academic opportunity — it offered a potential escape from a life disrupted by war.
Italy became a key destination for Palestinian students fleeing Gaza between 2025 and 2026. By May 2026, 229 students had left, and 40 more joined in June. Lower tuition and living costs made it a rare choice for students facing collapsed schools and universities.
Yet for Mariam, admission was only the first step. Israel’s strict travel rules, worsened by the conflict with Iran, have kept her trapped. Though she got a visa, leaving remains uncertain. She has sought help from groups that may assist, but no clear path exists.
A system that breaks dreams
“There are still many steps and challenges that need to be overcome,” Mariam said. Each week in Gaza, hope for the future fades a little more.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it works with universities to support students from Gaza. But Professor Giovanna Citti of the University of Bologna pointed out that the bigger issue is not getting into a program, but leaving Gaza and meeting Italy’s travel requirements.
Visa rejections and border closures
Many students who got offers from Italian universities had their visas denied multiple times. Some were denied at checkpoints. With war ongoing, border crossings are nearly impossible. The destruction of infrastructure in Gaza has made studying abroad seem like a distant dream.
Mariam fears her dream may not come true. “It is a path toward a future I have tried to reach,” she said. She is not alone. Behind each application and rejection, a student struggles to hold on to hope. For now, the doors stay closed. The war continues. The dream fades.
A journey filled with obstacles
Mariam al-Najar, 24, from Khan Younis in Gaza, worked hard to reach this moment. The acceptance email from the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio felt like a light at the end of a dark tunnel. She called it a “ray of light that suddenly appeared and gave me a sense of life and hope again.”
The university offered a master’s program in economics and management, a field she is passionate about. For her, it represented a chance to build a future amid the chaos of war in Gaza. After years of uncertainty, she felt a possible way forward.
But the acceptance letter didn’t include a clear path to leave. The real challenge came when she learned how difficult it is to exit Gaza. Israel’s travel restrictions, made worse by the war with Iran, have kept her stuck. Even with a visa, the obstacles remain.
Travel costs and educational access
Between 2025 and 2026, Italy became a main destination for Palestinian students from Gaza. By May 2026, 229 had left, with 40 more in June. Lower tuition and living costs in Italy compared to other European countries made it an appealing choice. For example, the average cost for a student in Italy is about €10,200 ($11,773) a year, while in the UK it can be as high as £60,000 ($80,820).
But for Mariam, financial costs weren’t the biggest issue. The challenge was getting out of Gaza. Israel’s policies have made travel out nearly impossible.
A Kafkaesque bureaucracy
Mariam reached out to organizations hoping for help with the travel process. But Israel’s strict rules have kept her and others trapped. “There are still many steps and challenges that need to be overcome,” she said.
Professor Giovanna Citti from the University of Bologna said the key issue was not university admission, but the difficulty of leaving Gaza and completing the necessary travel steps.
The cost of lost opportunities
Every day Mariam spends in Gaza feels like another lost opportunity. Her university term in Italy starts in autumn, but with her departure still uncertain, starting on time becomes less likely.
For Mariam, the scholarship meant more than just an education — it was a potential escape from a region where hope is rare. “It is a path toward a future I have tried to reach despite all circumstances,” she said.
She is not alone. Other students in Gaza have faced similar struggles, with scholarships leading to rejections, visa denials, and endless delays.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is working with universities to help students travel. But the biggest challenge remains navigating the complex bureaucracy and political barriers to exit Gaza and reach Italy.
Mariam’s struggle reflects that of many others. They wait, hoping for a chance to escape and build a new life.
For now, the dream remains just out of reach. Mariam still hopes, but the war and restrictions continue to grow tighter, making the future more uncertain.