Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

News

KCL Launches Scholarship in Honour of KCL Alumnus Dr Maisara Alrayyes

Picture of Dr Maisara Alrayyes, at his graduation from Al-Quds University.
Picture of Dr Maisara Alrayyes, at his graduation from Al-Quds University, taken from his Twitter account (https://twitter.com/Maisara_Alrayes/status/1051168395301974017).

On 24 September, King’s College London (KCL) announced the Dr Maisara Alrayyes Scholarship for Palestinian postgraduate students, to be introduced for the 2025-26 academic year.

The scholarship is designed to provide funding to one Palestinian student each year to pursue an MSc in a “health or health science subject”.

The scholarship seeks to support who share Dr. Alrayyes’s dedication to improving health outcomes, with a particular focus on women’s and children’s health.

Between 2019 and 2020, Dr Alrayyes completed for a master’s degree in Women and Children’s Health at KCL under the prestigious Chevening Scholarship.

After completing his degree, Dr Alrayyes returned to Gaza, Palestine and joined a humanitarian organisation, Médecins du Monde, to develop trauma care centres and manage emergency doctor training.

He was killed on 5 November 2023 alongside other family members by an Israeli airstrike. He is survived by his wife, Laura Elhayek, who is also a Chevening scholar.

Though the preferred criteria for the scholarship list a Palestinian medicine graduate applying for a health-related master’s degree, it is also possible that an applicant from a forced-migration background, may be successful in their application. Successful applicants shall receive:

  • a full tuition fee waiver;
  • a living allowance of £20,000 for their year of study;
  • VISA and travel costs.

Students applying for this scholarship are also advised to indicate their interest in the Sanctuary Scholarship, for which they may also be eligible. Both scholarships are set to open for applications in early 2025.

A King’s College London spokesperson said:

“Together with Dr Alrayyes’s family, friends and colleagues, King’s has established The Dr Maisara Alrayyes Scholarship to honour his commitment to improving healthcare for women and children by supporting future students who share his ambitions, and in line with King’s vision of making the world a better place. The scholarship will be managed by King’s Sanctuary Programme.  Formed in 2015 in response to the global issue of forced displacement, the Sanctuary Programme harnesses King’s expertise in education and remote learning, world-class research and existing partnerships to initiate and lead on projects that create positive opportunities for forcibly displaced people from around the world.”

Latest

Comment

Staff Writer Dahlia Farzi assesses why the promises made by Harris and Trump in the US elections resulted in Trump’s victory. Donald Trump recaptured...

Comment

On Remembrance Sunday, Guest Writer Danial Ahmed reflects on the sacrifices made by British soldiers in the Falklands War, examining the legacy of remembrance...

Comment

Staff writer Anoushka Singh highlights the disconnect between students and employers in the job market, and how IFutures can create a necessary bridge. In...

Culture

Staff Writer Valeria Centola visits Londons new contemporary art museum, sharing all the highlights, plus how to get your hands on tickets ! A...

Science & Technology

On Thursday, 17 October, KCL UN Women UK, in collaboration with Science Mind Magazine, KCL Space and KCL Women in Engineering, held their first...

Science & Technology

The King’s College London (KCL) School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences (BMEIS) showcased their latest innovations in healthcare technology between 12 and 14...

Alumni

In the afternoon of 17 October, an episode of an American TV show ‘Family Ingredients’ was filmed on King’s College London’s (KCL) Strand Quadrangle....

Culture

Staff writer Valeria Centola uncovers hidden study spots around London sharing some of her favourite finds ! In my first year, I struggled to...