Palestinian Graduate Students Shift from Canada to France Amid Visa Delays

Recently, numerous Palestinian graduate students awaiting Canadian visas have instead secured placements at French universities. This development underscores the persistent hurdles Palestinians encounter when pursuing higher education abroad,particularly due to complex and slow immigration procedures.

Prolonged Visa Waits Drive Students Toward French Universities

A coalition of academics supporting Palestinian scholars reveals that many recipients of scholarships and admissions offers for Canadian institutions remain stranded as of extended visa processing delays by Canada’s immigration authorities. In contrast, several students have successfully transitioned to French universities within the past month.

The association Palestinian Students and Scholars at Risk (PSSAR) interprets this shift as a sign of inadequate facilitation from Canadian officials. Ayman Oweida,chairperson of PSSAR and professor at Université de Sherbrooke’s health sciences department,expressed relief that alternatives exist but also frustration over the inability to bring these students to Canada despite persistent efforts.

Security Clearance Limitations Hamper Gaza Applicants

A meaningful factor behind these delays is Canada’s restricted capacity for biometric security clearances inside Gaza.Due to ongoing conflict conditions, immigration officers face challenges in collecting fingerprints and photographs locally. Even applicants who have left Gaza experiance unpredictable processing times influenced by application completeness and verification complexities.

A Student’s Path: From Gaza’s Devastation to Marseille’s Campus

Ihab*, a biomedical engineering graduate from Al-Azhar University-whose campus was severely damaged during military operations-initially applied for a mechanical engineering master’s program at the University of Alberta but faced months-long visa backlogs with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). After submitting his application in April without updates for several months, he reapplied on June 1st to Centrale Méditerranée in Marseille.

Within weeks Ihab received admission into their biomedical engineering master’s program along with rapid visa approval by July 10th. The French government facilitated his evacuation through Jordan where biometrics were collected-a process Ihab describes as far more efficient than Canada’s approach.

“France’s government really puts effort into helping students escape conflict zones and navigate admissions abroad,” Ihab remarked about their support system.

An Increasing Number Opting Out of Canadian Programs

This trend is echoed by othre cases: one student admitted last June by the University of calgary later gained acceptance with scholarship support from Université Grenoble Alpes in November 2024; they now plan to withdraw entirely from Canadian programs. At least three additional individuals connected with PSSAR report intentions or confirmations that they will abandon Canadian offers after receiving evacuation assistance or scholarships through France.

French Evacuations Outpace Canadian arrivals

reports indicate approximately 115 Palestinians-mostly university-level scholars-have been evacuated recently via French initiatives this year alone. By comparison, although over 1,750 Gazans passed security screenings as of early July 2025-with around 864 arriving in Canada-the majority managed their own exit routes through egypt without direct governmental aid from Ottawa.

Diplomatic Differences Shape Student Mobility Patterns

the contrasting experiences reflect divergent diplomatic strategies: Ottawa faces access restrictions inside gaza partly due to its relationship dynamics with Israel; meanwhile Paris leverages stronger regional ties allowing smoother passage for Palestinians bound for study there-even requiring applicants residing within Gaza itself submit visa requests via Ramallah or jerusalem since local consular services remain suspended amid hostilities.

• Canada: Demands complete applications including letters from designated learning institutions plus approved study permits before travel; lacks biometric collection facilities inside Gaza;
• France: Utilizes third-party agencies such as VFS Global assisting applicants remotely; coordinates evacuations facilitating biometrics outside active conflict zones;
• PSSAR Perspective: Urges Canada “to replicate France’s proactive measures” given its critical stance against violence disrupting educational opportunities;
• Larger Context: Over half a million Gazans displaced since early 2025 fighting forced closure of all active universities within the enclave;
• Evolving Trends: Mid-2025 data reveal international student mobility increasingly shaped by geopolitical factors beyond academic qualifications alone;

‘Deferred Ambitions’ Amid Conflict-Induced Displacement

Ihab shares stories about friends still trapped inside war-ravaged areas whose educational dreams remain unfulfilled largely due to bureaucratic inertia combined with physical barriers blocking safe exits.“They remain stuck in Gaza,” Ihab said,“and their hopes are shattered.”

*Name altered for confidentiality purposes.