Palestinian Stipendium Hungaricum students cry out for help as they face losing their scholarships without Hungary’s support

One of our readers—and a proud recipient of the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship—has shared a heartfelt letter describing the difficult circumstances faced by his fellow students and himself. Below, you can read his unedited message in full.

My name is Ibrahim Alghorane, and I am one of 25 Palestinian students from Gaza who have been awarded the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship to study at various universities across Hungary.

Among us, 9 students were accepted for the 2024/2025 academic year, but due to the war, they had to defer their studies for one year. Unfortunately, they have now reached the deferral limit, and they are at serious risk of losing their scholarships permanently if they are unable to travel soon. We represent different academic levels — bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD — in vital fields such as medicine, engineering, and others. For all of us, this scholarship is more than just an educational opportunity. It is a lifeline, a path to peace, and a symbol of hope after years of hardship.

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Since the outbreak of war in Gaza in October 2023, the situation has become catastrophic. Much of the infrastructure has been destroyed. Schools and universities have stopped operating. Most of the population has been displaced. Electricity is nearly unavailable, clean water is scarce, and the threat of violence is constant. Daily life has become a struggle for survival.

Most of us study by candlelight or small flashlights, with the sound of drones and bombings in the background. Some of us have lost our homes, others have lost family members. Yet we hold on to our books and dreams — because education is not a luxury for us; it is a form of survival and resistance. Despite being fully funded by the Hungarian government and having official university admissions, we are still trapped in Gaza, with no safe way to leave. The border crossings are closed to students, and no evacuation mechanism exists for us.

We have already reached out to several Hungarian institutions and authorities, including those responsible for the Stipendium Hungaricum program, in the hope of finding a solution — but so far, we are still waiting for concrete action. It is heartbreaking to work so hard to earn a scholarship, only to be denied the chance to use it — not because of anything we did wrong, but simply because of where we were born.

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What makes it even more painful is that many other European countries, not only Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Ireland, have already successfully evacuated their students from Gaza. These evacuations were coordinated with Israeli authorities, and the students later completed their visa procedures at embassies in Cairo or Amman.

We hope similar humanitarian coordination can be achieved with the Hungarian side to help us reach our universities. We are not asking for financial support — we are fully prepared to cover our travel, accommodation, and visa expenses ourselves. What we truly need is authorization to leave Gaza and a safe corridor — a basic human right. Hungary has always stood out in Europe for its deep commitment to education and international cooperation.

The Stipendium Hungaricum program is widely recognized as one of the most prestigious and generous scholarships in Europe, attracting talented students from around the globe. Hungarian universities are known for their academic excellence, innovation, and dedication to student development. Many of us chose Hungary not only for the scholarship, but because we believe in the values of the Hungarian people — resilience, kindness, and solidarity. It is this spirit that gives us hope: that Hungary will once again lead by example, just as it has in the past. If this academic year is lost again, many of us will permanently lose our scholarships. This is not just a delay — it could be the end of our academic futures.

We still believe in Hungary’s values — access to education, human dignity, and equal opportunity. The Hungarian government gave us this chance through the Stipendium Hungaricum program, and we are holding on to that hope. “We study not because it is easy, but because we refuse to let war define our future.”

— A group of Stipendium Hungaricum students from Gaza.

Here is a photo collage of them:

We are also aware that Hungarian institutions helped students fleeing the war in Ukraine, and we sincerely hope for similar compassion and assistance for us. We call on Hungarian universities and student organizations to support initiatives that enable the acceptance and integration of students from conflict zones. Ongoing media attention can help keep our case visible and put pressure on decision-makers.

Our situation aligns with international human rights principles and UN resolutions that call for the protection of education during emergencies. ‏We are attaching a preliminary file with our names, fields of study, and general information for transparency and verification. ‏If required, we are fully prepared to provide our official university and scholarship admission documents for all 25 students to help move our case forward.

We kindly ask for your support in sharing our story so that Hungarian decision-makers and the international community can hear our voices. We also welcome any journalist, editor, or correspondent interested in speaking with us directly or conducting interviews — we are available and eager to share our experience in full. Time is running out. Every day that passes puts our futures at greater risk. We simply cannot wait any longer. Thank you again for your compassion and support.

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