Faced with prolonged U.S. visa delays and mounting political uncertainties, a growing number of international students are abandoning plans to study in America, and global universities are quickly stepping in to fill the void.
In China, some students have given up entirely on pursuing U.S. studies due to interview backlogs, while universities in Hong Kong and elsewhere in Asia are receiving a wave of transfer inquiries. British universities, too, are seeing a rebound in international interest despite their own tightening immigration policies, according an AP report.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s intensified crackdown on immigration, including targeting foreign students for pro-Palestinian activism and abruptly stripping legal status from thousands over minor infractions, has added new layers of scrutiny for those seeking U.S. student visas. Social media vetting and paused appointments have further disrupted access.
RELATED STORIES
The ripple effects are already visible. New international enrollment in the U.S. could drop by as much as 30% to 40% this fall, according to data analyzed by NAFSA, a nonprofit dedicated to global education. That decline could cost the U.S. economy $7 billion in spending and deliver a blow to college budgets reliant on full-tuition-paying foreign students.
Watch a recent episode of The BreakDown podcast below and subscribe to our channel PanaGenius TV for latest episodes.
Still, demand to study abroad remains high, just not necessarily in the U.S.
In the United Kingdom, which remains the second-most popular destination globally, undergraduate applications from international students have rebounded, growing 2.2% this fall. Applications from China rose 10% year-over-year, and U.S. applications reached a 20-year high with nearly 8,000 submissions — up 14% from the previous year.
The trend extends beyond the U.K. “The American brand has taken a massive hit, and the U.K. is the one that is benefiting,” said Mike Henniger, CEO of Illume Student Advisory Services.
Graduate programs in Britain are also experiencing a boom, especially in business and management disciplines. Data from UniQuest indicates a 10% increase in international acceptances.
Universities in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore, many hosting satellite campuses of Western institutions, are also reporting surging interest. Will Kwong of Hong Kong-based AAS Education noted the shift began post-COVID but has accelerated under the current U.S. administration.
“Opting for study in Asia has been a trend since the easing of COVID-19,” Kwong said. “But obviously it’s been exacerbated by the change of administration in the U.S.”
Kwong says some families have lost faith in the U.S. system due to political instability and visa uncertainty. “Many are still waiting for U.S. visa interviews and will likely miss the start of the fall term,” he added.
Alisa, a Chinese student studying data science, has her eyes set on an exchange at the University of California, Berkeley. But she’s keeping her options open.
“Just so I could still go to school if the extreme scenario occurs,” said Alisa, who asked to be identified only by her first name out of fear of being targeted.
In response to visa barriers, Hong Kong’s leader John Lee declared the city would welcome students turned away from the U.S. It now allows international students to work part-time, enhancing its appeal.
Hong Kong University reported receiving more than 500 inquiries from students currently enrolled in the U.S., with 200 formal transfer applications underway. At the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, international undergraduate applications are up 40%, said associate provost Alison Lloyd.
Even the United Arab Emirates is gaining ground. Dubai now hosts dozens of foreign universities’ satellite campuses and has seen international enrollment rise by a third in the past academic year. Its ambition to become a global education hub is evident.
“Every student wants and dreams to go to Harvard,” said Lisa Johnson, principal of the American Academy for Girls in Dubai. “But as college options increase in the United Arab Emirates, more and more students are staying.”
Kazakhstan is also investing in higher education partnerships. U.S. institutions such as Illinois Tech and the University of Arizona now offer full degree programs in the Central Asian country.
“All of a sudden U.S. colleges are asking how to provide diversity, provide access,” said Daniel Palm, who supports overseas expansion for U.S. universities. “Because you have students who want to come to the U.S. and can’t.”
