The UK government evacuated Manar al‑Houbi, a Gaza PhD scholar bound for the University of Glasgow, along with her family after reversing a prior decision to deny them entry despite a fully funded scholarship and visa. Campaigning by the university and press coverage prompted the intervention; officials say other students remain unable to leave Gaza. University international officers and visa teams should note this case: scholarship funding and admission guarantees do not ensure family evacuation in conflict zones. Institutions recruiting students from conflict-affected areas must maintain contingency plans, legal support and diplomatic advocacy channels. The episode highlights the political and operational friction that can arise between institutional commitments to incoming scholars and national immigration decisions—risks that may amplify for programs recruiting from volatile regions in coming years.