About PSSAR
The Palestinian Students & Scholars at Risk (PSSAR) initiative is a Canadian, apolitical non-profit organization dedicated to opening doors for Palestinian graduates seeking advanced degrees abroad. Our core mission centers on precision academic pairing: through our Match Program, we work closely with students to connect them with fully funded Master’s and PhD programs tailored specifically to their field of study and research interests at top universities across Canada. Alongside our matching efforts, we host an intensive 8-week Bootcamp designed to equip applicants with the skills, guidance, and application strategies needed to independently secure admissions and full scholarships for graduate studies across Europe, the UK, Japan, and South Korea.
Important Program Updates & Deadlines
- Match Program: Operating on a rolling basis with no application deadline, our Canadian matching program allows qualified candidates to apply at any time to be paired with fully funded graduate positions.
- Bootcamp: Applications for Cohort 2 are now closed. The August 15, 2026 application deadline has passed for the upcoming September 15, 2026 program start date.
What the program includes:
- CV, Statement of Purpose, and research proposal coaching
- Support for English proficiency tests (IELTS, Duolingo)
- Guidance accessing over 1,000 global funding opportunities
- A full year of academic mentorship
Before you apply, please check that you meet these criteria:
- A minimum 85% average in your bachelor's degree
- Graduated within the last four years
- Research experience in higher education (priority, not required)
- English and/or French proficiency (proof from your bachelor's language of instruction, or a test such as IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, DELF/DALF/TCF)
A few important things to know:
- PSSAR helps you prepare for and access academic opportunities — we are not an immigration services agency, and this program is intended for those who plan to continue in academia and eventually contribute to rebuilding it in Palestine.
- Admission and funding decisions are made by the university, not PSSAR. You're only officially admitted once you receive a formal Admission Letter and Funding Package.
- PSSAR doesn't automatically cover travel, application, or permit fees, but a financial assistance program is available after you pass the first stage of the application.
- Applying doesn't guarantee a match or admission, and accuracy matters — misrepresenting your information can affect your eligibility for PSSAR's services.
Questions? Visit pssar.org or email us at info@pssar.org.