Update on Leap Higher Scholarship Funds
Providing Palestinian Students with Access to World-Class Universities
At Phoenix Space, we believe that access to world-class education is a right, not a privilege, and that every young person, no matter where they are born, deserves the opportunity to pursue their potential. That belief is at the heart of the Leap Higher Scholarship Funds, which is unlocking the doors of the world’s top universities for extraordinary Palestinian students.
Through our three scholarship streams, Interstellar, Launchpad-Interstellar, and Orion, we are forging life-changing educational pathways for Palestinian students. Providing scholarships to the most academically gifted Palestinian students isn’t just an investment in individual success; it’s a powerful act of recognition and hope in future Palestinian leadership. For young people who have long been marginalised, it’s a chance to take their place on the world stage, to be seen, heard, and valued.
Orion: Higher Education Support for Displaced Youth from Gaza
Launched in 2024, Orion responds to the urgent educational needs of Palestinian students from Gaza who have arrived in Egypt under distressing circumstances, many seeking medical treatment and safety following the devastating circumstances in Palestine.
Current Impact
- 27 students enrolled in Egyptian universities
- Scholarships cover tuition, rent, transport, and living expenses.
“I aspire to complete my studies, continue my learning journey by obtaining a master’s and a doctorate, and contribute with practical research that benefits society and humanity, leaving a strong mark in my field of specialization.”
Interstellar Scholarship Fund: Update
The Interstellar Scholarship Fund provides vital financial support to academically outstanding Palestinian students who have already secured admission, or are on the path to admission, at top-tier universities, including institutions listed in the Times Higher Education Top 20 rankings.
We are proud to share that this stream is fully operational, and momentum is building. To date, 14 scholarships have been approved for students who will begin their studies in the 2025/26 academic year. These students, 70% of whom are girls, have been accepted to prestigious universities, including:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Princeton University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University College London (UCL), University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, University of Washington, University of Edinburgh.
These scholarships do more than cover tuition, living, and travel costs. They send a message of possibility, resilience, and hope. As one scholar recently shared:
“I aspire to complete my studies, continue my learning journey by obtaining a master’s and a doctorate, and contribute with practical research that benefits society and humanity, leaving a strong mark in my field of specialisation.”
Launchpad-Interstellar: Update
While the Interstellar Scholarship Fund supports those already admitted, the Launchpad-Interstellar branch prepares high-achieving Palestinian students to access elite institutions in the first place. These students have the talent but lack the structural support, financial, logistical, and academic, to navigate the highly competitive global admissions process.
In its first cycle, Launchpad has drawn over 80 exceptional applicants. After a rigorous selection process, we have:
- Selected 20 students to join the Launchpad Intensive Programme, which offers one-on-one mentorship, application coaching, SAT and IELTS preparation, academic training, and support with documentation and scholarship applications. These students are now preparing to apply for 2026/27 admission.
- 60 additional students are enrolled in our UK and US Admissions Guidance Programme, a structured pathway offering workshops, group coaching, CV preparation, English language support and foundational support for university preparation and the admission process in its entirety.
For those pursuing STEM fields, the programme includes advanced training in computer science and mathematics through our partnership with Meshka. Students will also be prepared for prestigious international academic competitions, such as the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) and the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), further strengthening their academic profiles.
Looking Ahead: Building a Global Community of Scholars
The Leap Higher initiative goes beyond scholarships. We’re cultivating a global community of Palestinian scholars, a network of students, alumni, and mentors who uplift one another, contribute to their communities, and lead with purpose.
We’re building an online platform to facilitate:
- Peer-to-peer mentorship between applicants and current scholars
- Career readiness through workshops and professional development
- Civic engagement and volunteering opportunities, both within Palestine and globally
- Leadership training and skill-building, delivered in partnership with Phoenix Space’s academic and corporate allies
These students represent a generation of resilient change-makers. By investing in their education, we aim to equip them with the skills, networks, and confidence to return to their communities as leaders, innovators, and agents of meaningful transformation. By opening doors to the world’s top universities, we’re equipping them with the skills, confidence, and networks they need to lead across fields like technology, diplomacy, human rights, and beyond.
Why It Matters
Education is often one of the first things to be disrupted by conflict, but it should never be one of the last things we restore. Through Leap Higher Interstellar, we are standing firmly with the youth of Palestine. We are determined not to let this generation be lost, not to war, not to occupation, not to despair.
Each scholarship is a pathway. Each student is a bridge. Together, we are investing in dignity, agency, and hope, ensuring that no ambition is forgotten and no potential goes unrealised.
