By Deputy Editor Aria Kazi.

​Across Irish universities, concerns continue to grow over the high rate of refusal of study visas for Palestinian students from Gaza, who have secured fully funded places at Irish higher education institutions and are to take up their scholarships in September.

While initial reports highlight 20 visa denials, updated figures reveal mass rejections. According to the latest figures, the Department of Justice has received 120 long total long stay study visa applications from Palestinian students. 31 of 59 students who secured full or partial scholarships have now faces official visa refusals.

It has been found that 20 student visas have been denied by the Irish immigration authorities, with only 9 students with state-funded scholarships granted visas, leaving dozens still awaiting responses. 

Dublin City University Students’ Union (DCUSU) President Katherine McBride was among 250 people outside the Department of Justice protesting over the denial of visas to 20 students from Gaza.  

She said, “The Department of Justice has a lot to answer for when it comes to the denial of Palestinian student visas.”

She also said, “This is an issue that runs deeper than DCU; it comes from the elected ‘representatives’ that we see in the Department of Justice. DCU could and should speak out on this at a University level; however, it is my understanding that the Department of Justice has the final say on these things, unfortunately. DCUSU will continue to promote things such as petitions to get these students here! We are heartbroken by the denial of their visas.”

“Unfortunately a lot of this is out of the hands of DCUSU and DCU. We will continue to protest and demand that they be allowed to study here” she follows. 

With the Autumn semester fast approaching, Palestinian students are left with uncertainty about whether they will be able to enter Ireland and begin their courses.

The DCUSU Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, Angelina Zhao, reacted to this case as appalling, saying that the Department of Justice is asking for documents from students, though these documents may not exist anymore due to the ongoing war and genocide.

“The government’s system does not appear to understand and fails to recognise the difficulties of these students. The refusal reports were due to reasons such as gaps in education and not being able to include original bank statements.”

A DCU student adds “these scholarships not only offered an opportunity for education but also offered a hope of safety and protection. Also, it allows them the opportunity to rebuild their lives and contribute to creating a new Palestine.”

The Department of Justice has declined to give a breakdown of applications that are coming from Gaza.

Following this, DCU BDS has spoken up for these students in an open letter calling on the Department of Justice to allow Palestinian students to take up their places at Irish universities.

​DCU BDS has published its open letter on Instagram, outlining its concerns over the visa refusals and its demands of the Department of Justice.

They  called on the Irish Government to reconsider the decisions and facilitate the students’ arrival in Ireland so they can begin their studies.

Previous reports state that Ireland previously facilitated the arrival of Palestinian students from Gaza who had been offered scholarships by Irish educational institutions. The Government said in 2025 that 52 Palestinian young people had been offered scholarships and that Irish officials had worked to facilitate their travel to Ireland.

The latest visa refusals have renewed calls from student organisations and campaigners for the Government to ensure that students who have been offered places and scholarships can take them up.