Balfour’s University

The student movement for divestment at the University of Edinburgh, notoriously known as ‘Balfour’s University’.

Students at the University of Edinburgh participate in a hunger strike campaign as part of the wider movement for divestment during the student encampment, 2024 / British Vogue.

Students at the University of Edinburgh participate in a hunger strike campaign as part of the wider movement for divestment during the student encampment, 2024 / British Vogue.

A student on hunger strike stands in front of the dome of Old College, where the executive offices looked over the student encampment, 2024.
Student protestors sit amongst tents on the Old College Quad during the Edinburgh student encampment, 2024 / Middle East Eye.
A graduating student from the School of Social and Political Science protests Edinburgh University's financial complicity in the Gaza genocide, 2025 / Counterfire. (1/2)
The student encampment at Old College, Edinburgh, 2024 / Electronic Intifada
Students from the School of Social and Political Science walk out of their graduation ceremony in protest of Edinburgh University's ongoing financial complicity in the Gaza genocide, 2025 / Counterfire. (1/4)
Students protest at a national demonstration for Gaza in Edinburgh, 2024.
A student addresses fellow protestors on the first day of the student encampment at Edinburgh University, 2024.
Students perform dabka - the Palestinian folk dance - during the encampment at Old College, 2024.
Mila, a young Egyptian girl at the forefront of pro-Palestine protests in Edinburgh, observes a rally in Old College, 2024.
Students claim Old College as a 'liberated zone'. This banner was removed by security shortly after, 2024.
A mother and child place images of Palestinian martyrs on the walls of Old College during the first construction of the Martyrs' Memorial, 2024.
Protestors carry a scroll throughout Edinburgh, on which the names and ages of Palestinians killed in the genocide are written, 2024.
An anti-Zionist Jewish activist and descendant of Holocaust surivors gives a speech during the Edinburgh encampment, 2024.
Head of Security Nial Moffat attempts to communicate with students during a sit-in at the Edinburgh University administrative offices, 2025. (1/2)
A graduating student from the School of Social and Political Science protests Edinburgh University's financial complicity in the Gaza genocide, 2025 / Counterfire. (2/2)
Gifts placed at the reconstructed Martyrs' Memorial during an inaugeration ceremony organised by students following its first removal, 2024.
Letter written by a Palestinian child in Scotland to the children of Gaza, placed at the Martyrs' Memorial, 2024.
Letter written by a Palestinian child in Scotland to the children of Gaza, placed at the Martyrs' Memorial, 2024.
Messages left by students and members of the wider public in a notebook at the Martyrs' Memorial, 2024.
Names and ages of children killed in Gaza, alongisde flowers, placed at the Martyrs' Memorial by members of the public, 2024.
Bystanders at Edinburgh University watch a pro-Palestine rally marking one year of genocide and demanding divestment, Oct 7th 2024.
Student activist addresses the crowd in a speech on October 7th, 2024.
A scroll containing the names and ages of Palestinians killed in the genocide is carried across campus on the one year mark of genocide, 2024.
Students protesting for divestment from Edinburgh's genocide-complicit shares, 2025. (1/2)
A doctor's coat donated to the memorial by the Health Workers for Palestine group in Edinburgh. Names and ages of health workers killed in Gaza are written on the coat, 2024.
A student during a rally at the Edinburgh encampment, 2024.
Unknown individual photographs the student sit-in from the executive offices' window, 2025.
Head of Security Nial Moffat attempts to communicate with students during a sit-in at the Edinburgh University administrative offices, 2025. (2/2)
Students protesting the University's ongoing financial complicty in the genocide duringthe sit-in of the administrative offices, 2025. (1/3)
Students protesting the University's ongoing financial complicty in the genocide duringthe sit-in of the administrative offices, 2025. (2/3)
Students protesting the University's ongoing financial complicty in the genocide duringthe sit-in of the administrative offices, 2025. (3/3)
Students leave messages of disgust and anger towards the administration after the office secretary leaves the site of the sit-in, 2025.
Student with sign criticising the university's invesetments in genocide, and calling for the resignation of Vice-Chancellor and Principal Peter Matheison, 2025.
Bystanders observe march for divestment and Palestinian liberation, 2025. (1/2)
Bystanders observe march for divestment and Palestinian liberation, 2025. (2/2)
Head of Security Nial Moffat watches a pro-Palestine student rally march past, 2025.
Students protesting for divestment from Edinburgh's genocide-complicit shares, 2025. (2/2)
Members of the public join students at Old College to protest Edinburgh University's ongoing complicity in the genocide, 2025. (2/2)
Students protesting for divestment address the administration of Edinburgh University during an executive meeting at the Playfair Library, 2025.
A pro-Palestine student raises the black power fist during their graduation ceremony, 2025.
Students from the School of Social and Political Science walk out of their graduation ceremony in protest of Edinburgh University's ongoing financial complicity in the Gaza genocide, 2025. (2/4)
Students from the School of Social and Political Science walk out of their graduation ceremony in protest of Edinburgh University's ongoing financial complicity in the Gaza genocide, 2025. (3/4)
Students from the School of Social and Political Science walk out of their graduation ceremony in protest of Edinburgh University's ongoing financial complicity in the Gaza genocide, 2025. (4/4)
Members of the public join students at Old College to protest Edinburgh University's ongoing complicity in the genocide, 2025. (1/2)