Answer

Summary of the Ruling

It is not permissible for a woman to travel the distance of safar (approximately 77 km / 48 miles or more) without a mahram, even for education, a study tour, or to pass an honours degree. This is an established and unequivocal ruling of the Hanafi school based on multiple authentic hadith. Your difficult circumstances are understood and sympathized with, but hardship does not make the impermissible permissible. However, Islam does not leave you without options — there are practical alternatives you can pursue, and Allah will open a way for the one who leaves something for His sake.

Detailed Answer

The Shar'i Ruling on a Woman Travelling Without a Mahram

The prohibition is established by numerous authentic narrations:

Hadith 1 — Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim:

«لَا تُسَافِرِ الْمَرْأَةُ إِلَّا مَعَ ذِي مَحْرَمٍ» "A woman shall not travel except with a dhu mahram (a mahram relative)." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1862; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1339)

Hadith 2 — Sahih Muslim:

«لَا يَحِلُّ لِامْرَأَةٍ تُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ أَنْ تُسَافِرَ مَسِيرَةَ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ لَيْسَ لَهَا ذُو مَحْرَمٍ» "It is not lawful for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to travel a distance of a day and a night without a mahram." (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1339)

Hadith 3 — Sahih al-Bukhari: A man stood up and said, "O Messenger of Allah, my wife has set out for Hajj, and I have been enrolled for such-and-such battle." The Prophet ﷺ said:

«انْطَلِقْ فَحُجَّ مَعَ امْرَأَتِكَ» "Go and perform Hajj with your wife." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3006)

This last hadith is especially instructive: even for Hajj — one of the pillars of Islam and an obligation — a woman cannot travel without a mahram. If this is the ruling for an obligatory act of worship, then a study tour (which is not even an Islamic obligation) certainly cannot override the prohibition.

The Hanafi Position

Imam al-Hidayah (Burhan al-Din al-Marghinani) states clearly:

وَلَا تَخْرُجُ الْمَرْأَةُ فِي سَفَرٍ إِلَّا مَعَ مَحْرَمٍ

"A woman may not set out on a journey except with a mahram." (Al-Hidayah, Kitab al-Hajj)

Ibn Abidin (Radd al-Muhtar) — the foremost Hanafi reference — confirms this and states that the prohibition applies to all types of travel, whether for worship, trade, education, or any other purpose, when the distance reaches the threshold of safar. He writes:

وَالْحَاصِلُ أَنَّهُ لَا يَجُوزُ لَهَا السَّفَرُ بِلَا مَحْرَمٍ لِغَيْرِ ضَرُورَةٍ

"The conclusion is that it is not permissible for her to travel without a mahram except in cases of genuine necessity (darurah)." (Radd al-Muhtar, Kitab al-Hajj, Bab al-Mawaqit)

Mufti Muhammad Shafi (Rahmatullahi Alayh) in Ma'ariful Quran and Mufti Taqi Usmani in Fatawa Usmani both reiterate that the prohibition is absolute and not subject to academic or professional convenience.

What Should You Do? — Practical Solutions

You mentioned that your family is not supportive and that leaving the degree is not acceptable to them. Here are Islamically permissible alternatives:

(a) Request an Exemption from the Department Most universities have provisions for religious exemptions. You can formally apply, explaining that your religion prohibits a woman from travelling without a mahram. Many institutions accommodate this. Speak to your department head, student affairs, or the dean. If the tour is mandatory, ask for:

• An alternative assignment or research project
• A local field study that does not involve safar
• A remote/virtual participation option

(b) Arrange a Mahram to Accompany You If the tour is within the country and you have any mahram (father, brother, uncle, grandfather, son, nephew, etc.), ask if one of them can accompany you. Even if it is inconvenient, it may be possible. If the tour is abroad, a mahram would need to travel with you.

(c) Change the Mode of Assessment If the department allows, request to substitute the study tour with a dissertation, library research, or an equivalent academic exercise that fulfills the learning outcomes without travel.

(d) Seek Help from Islamic Organizations Contact local Islamic scholars or organizations who may be able to advocate on your behalf with the university, or provide documentation supporting your religious exemption request.

(e) Consider Transferring or Changing Programs If the department is absolutely inflexible and no alternative exists, consider whether another program or institution might be more accommodating. This is a last resort, but it is better than committing a haram act.

(f) Istikhara and Du'a Perform Salat al-Istikhara and make abundant du'a. Allah says:

«وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا» "And whoever fears Allah — He will make for him a way out." (Surah al-Talaq, 65:2)

Leave what is haram for the sake of Allah, and He will replace it with something better. The Prophet ﷺ said:

«مَا تَرَكَ عَبْدٌ شَيْئًا لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَّا بَدَّلَهُ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا مِنْهُ» "No servant leaves something for the sake of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, except that Allah replaces it with something better." (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 23074)

Important Clarification

You mentioned: "I don't have any physical illness that I could use."

Please note: fabricating an illness to obtain an exemption is itself a sin (lying). Do not resort to deception. Instead, be truthful about your religious obligation. In many secular institutions, a sincere religious explanation is respected. If it is not, then you must choose between obeying Allah and obeying the department — and the choice for a believer is clear.

Your duty: Seek every permissible alternative. Request exemption. Arrange a mahram. Change assessment mode. If all fails, do not go — and trust that Allah will provide a way. Your degree is not worth earning through disobedience to Allah. And Allah knows best.