Copty Scholarships

This scholarship was set up in 2020 by Georgina Copty and Christopher McDowell to encourage students from Palestine to undertake postgraduate study at Queen’s University Belfast.

Two Copty scholarships will be awarded in academic year 2026-27:

·The first will be for a student undertaking a one-year taught Masters degree within the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, or The School of Law.

·The second scholarship will be awarded to a student undertaking any one-year taught Masters programme at Queen’s University Belfast.

 

Value of the Scholarships

The Copty Scholarships provide successful applicants with international tuition fees for a taught Master’s degree and accommodation for one person, in Queen’s accommodation for the duration of the one-year master’s degree.

Additional funding support for travel and administrative fees may be available to the successful applicant.

 

Eligibility

To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must:

· Hold Palestinian nationality and should have lived in Gaza or the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and belong to a family normally resident there.

· Have received an offer to study on an eligible, one-year full-time taught programme at Queen’s University Belfast starting in the academic year 2026/27. Applications cannot be considered in advance of offers being made.

· Hold an undergraduate degree that is equivalent to a UK 2.1 Degree or higher from a university in the West Bank or Gaza and must not have already completed a Masters or have studied outside of the West Bank or Gaza, except for short courses.

· Have work and/or voluntary experience that is relevant to the field of study and a clear career path on completion of their studies and return to home country or region.

· Meet English language requirements acceptable to the course you wish to study. Queen’s University will accept the IELTS Academic (both SELT and non-SELT), and TOEFL internet –based tests for direct admission.

 

Applications are now open for Copty Scholarships 2026-27.

How to Apply

The deadline for applications is Friday 27 February 2026 at 17.00 GMT.

To be eligible for the scholarship, candidates must first have applied for an eligible Masters degree programme and have received a conditional offer.

Candidates must apply online for a place on an eligible postgraduate course at Queen’s University Belfast. Further guidance is provided on the University website at Master's Degrees | Study | Queen's University Belfast.

Please be advised that it may take two or three weeks for applications for postgraduate study to be processed and offers made.

To apply for the Copty Scholarship, applicants must complete the online application form available here.

We will not accept applications that are not submitted using the online application.

You will also need to provide supporting documentation by email. Details of the supporting documentation are provided on the online application form.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please contact copty@qub.ac.uk

 

Copty Scholars 2025-26

Alaa Ahmad is a computer hardware engineer currently pursuing an MSc in Artificial Intelligence at Queen’s University Belfast. His research interests focus on AI for hardware acceleration and agricultural applications, with the aim of developing smarter and more sustainable farming solutions.

Commenting on the Scholarship, Alaa said:

"Receiving the Copty Scholarship is a great honour that motivates me to pursue excellence at Queen’s University Belfast. In the year ahead, I look forward to deepening my expertise in artificial intelligence, engaging in meaningful research, and building connections that will enable me to give back to my community in Palestine."

Ibrahim Mahdi is a Palestinian dentist currently studying on the Master’s degree programme in Public Health. His research interests centre on the practical application of e-Health solutions, particularly in developing countries and conflict-affected settings.

Commenting on the Scholarship, Ibrahim said:

"Receiving the Copty Scholarship has been a life-changing moment, not only for me, but for my whole family who have supported me along the way. It feels like a shared reward for all the sacrifices and encouragement that brought me here. I have always dreamed of pursuing a Master’s in Public Health, and now, with Queen’s, I see a place where I can grow, flourish, and give back. I’m so excited and look forward to making the most of every academic, professional, and social opportunity in the upcoming year.”

Alaa Murtaja holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Dentistry from Al-Azhar University in Gaza, Palestine and is also studying on the Master’s degree programme in Public Health. Her research interests include noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), health communication and education, and access to health information in conflict-affected settings. Alaa aspires to work in organisations where her contribution focuses on health system strengthening and evidence-based public health programs.

Commenting on the Scholarship, Alaa said:

“Receiving the Copty Scholarship has been an extraordinary blessing for me and my family. It has turned what once felt like a distant dream into a real opportunity to study public health at Queen’s University Belfast. Even before I arrived in Belfast, the support, guidance, and sense of community that came with this scholarship taught me so much and made me feel welcomed and valued. I feel motivated to make the most of this experience and use it to contribute to improving health in my community.”

Previous Copty Scholars

Bilal Zedan

Daniella Dukmak

Yousef Albaba

Mohammed Sammour