PSSAR supports exceptional Palestinian students through dedicated initiatives that provide access to fully funded, research-based academic opportunities in Canada. As a non-profit, volunteer-led organization, we facilitate academic placements by connecting students with a network of partner institutions and professors. While we do not offer direct scholarships or immigration services, we are committed to providing essential Palestinian students support, including mental health support, to help them succeed in their educational journeys.
Helping exceptional Palestinian students access fully funded graduate research opportunities in Canada. We work with recent graduates—especially from Gaza and the West Bank—to match them with professors and institutions seeking strong academic talent. While PSSAR does not fund scholarships directly, we provide comprehensive Palestinian students support by guiding applicants through every step of the process. What we offer: Personalized academic matching with faculty and programs, application and admissions guidance, limited support for non-academic costs (e.g., visa or application fees), and pre-departure orientation and integration support in Canada, including mental health support. Who is this for? Palestinian students or early-career scholars with strong academic records (typically within 4 years of graduation). Priority is given to applicants from Gaza.
Partnering with Canadian faculty to host high-achieving Palestinian graduate students and scholars is an excellent way to create academic opportunities in Canada. We invite professors and institutions across the country to open positions in their labs or research groups for qualified Palestinian candidates. By collaborating with us, you can help bridge opportunity gaps while advancing academic equity and global collaboration.
We support professors by providing:
- Candidate vetting and shortlisting
- Interview coordination and selection
- Application and onboarding guidance
- Ongoing touchpoints throughout the student’s academic journey, including mental health support.
Why get involved? Many Palestinian students possess outstanding potential but face barriers to accessing global academic networks. As a professor, you can play a vital role in opening those doors by offering funded placements in your research program, thereby providing crucial Palestinian students support.
The Twin Labs Program is designed to facilitate direct partnerships between Palestinian scholars and their Canadian counterparts at the faculty and research lab levels. These structured, long-term collaborations are rooted in academic equality and shared scholarly goals, empowering co-creation in research, teaching, and mentorship, while also enhancing academic opportunities in Canada. Additionally, the program aims to provide mental health support through various initiatives for Palestinian students, fostering a collaborative academic environment.
Collaborations may include (but are not limited to):
- Joint research projects and co-authored publications
- Virtual seminars, guest lectures, and colloquia
- Co-development of academic curricula and open educational resources
- Mentorship and peer exchange for faculty and graduate students
- Research advising and collaborative supervision
- Sharing of datasets, methodologies, and best practices
Each partnership is tailored to the goals, capacities, and contexts of participating scholars. This initiative affirms that Palestinian academic knowledge is essential to global inquiry and academic justice.
PSSAR Care is a student-focused mental health support and referral service designed to be safe, private, and culturally responsive. It offers a space where Palestinian students can talk about what’s happening in their lives and receive clear, practical next steps for healing and growth, especially in the context of academic opportunities in Canada.
What we can help with:
- War-related or post-war trauma
- Loss and grief
- Stress, anxiety, or overwhelm
- Low mood and sleep difficulties
- Developing healthy ways to manage emotions and daily stress
Ruh Care is a trusted partner providing professional, licensed mental-health specialists who deliver high-quality, culturally responsive support to students in Gaza. Their team of experienced clinicians ensures each student receives care tailored to their unique needs and challenges. The process begins with initial guidance and assessment through our team, after which students are referred to Ruh Care to access their full network of specialists and comprehensive care pathways. Through this collaboration, students benefit from both personalized support and expert professional care.
PSSAR Assist is the support system dedicated to ensuring that students and scholars, particularly Palestinian students, successfully transition, settle, and thrive in Canada once their academic placement is secured. While PSSAR Match focuses on academic admission and facilitating academic opportunities in Canada, PSSAR Assist provides essential services to overcome non-academic barriers. The program includes services such as financial support to cover the cost of visa fees and university application fees, weekly webinars, pre- and post-landing support, and mental health support through PSSAR Care.
Scholars and graduate students who were matched by PSSAR.
Scholars and graduate students who secured their admissions independently of PSSAR but require PSSAR services.