The HESPAL Scholarship is a joint award offered by the British Council and St Mary's University, Twickenham to help junior academic staff in Palestinian universities achieve an English Master's degree in a subject that will benefit their home institution in the Palestinian Territories.
HESPAL aims to help create the next generation of senior academics who can maintain international quality standards at Palestinian universities and also develop renewed, sustainable links between Palestinian and UK universities.
The scholarship covers the following:
- Tuition fees
- Pre-departure briefing from the British Council
- Arrival allowances
- Thesis allowances
- A monthly allowance to cover living expenses
- Travel costs to and from the UK
Please note: the Scholarship does not cover the costs for accompanying family, visa fees and IELTS cost.
- Al Quds Open University
- Al Quds University Abu Dees
- Al-Aqsa University
- Al-Azhar University
- American Arab University in Jenin
- An-Najah National University
- Birzeit University
- Gaza University College of Applied Sciences (UCAS)
- Islamic University of Gaza
- Palestine Ahliya University
- Palestine Polytechnic University – Hebron
- Palestine Technical University Kadoorie
- University of Bethlehem
- University of Hebron
- University of Palestine
How to Apply
Applicants must provide the following supporting documents to the British Council Palestine within given deadlines:
- Completed three copies of HESPAL application form (including details of two academic referees)
- Certified Proof of Palestinian nationality and Palestinian Territories residency
- Nomination letter from Palestinian university
- Proof of employment at university
- Proof of academic and work record (Such as transcript translated into English including grades for each year of study of bachelor's degree and certified copies of Master's degree and degree certificates)
- IELTS certificate 6.5 and above
- Signed contract between scholar and their university declaring that they will return to Palestine to their university on completion of Master's degree after 12 months
- Signed release form from scholar permitting the UK HEI to provide British Council and scholar's home institution with reports from their academic advisor
Further information
HESPAL is funded by:
- Participating UK Higher Education Institutes (UK HEIs)
- A range of private sponsors (details provided on request)
- The Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS)
- Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO)
- The Arab Fund in Kuwait
HESPAL is managed and administered by British Council Palestine. For further details please visit the British Council website.