New York/Tokyo/Beijing/London: As U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies its crackdown on academic institutions, universities across the globe are stepping in to attract displaced international students—particularly those reconsidering the United States as their destination. With sweeping visa restrictions, research funding cuts, and heightened scrutiny on elite campuses, foreign institutions see both a humanitarian opportunity and a chance to tap into the billions of dollars associated with global academic migration.
Osaka University, one of Japan’s premier institutions, has launched an outreach initiative to welcome students and researchers affected by U.S. policies. The program includes tuition waivers, research grants, and logistical support for those seeking to transfer. Kyoto University and the University of Tokyo are reportedly weighing similar plans, reflecting a broader strategic effort by Japan to increase its international student population from 337,000 to 400,000 within the next decade.
In Hong Kong, education authorities have instructed local universities to actively recruit top academic talent from the U.S., while China’s Xi’an Jiaotong University is offering “streamlined” admission procedures and “comprehensive” support to those formerly affiliated with targeted American institutions such as Harvard.
Trump’s administration has cited elite U.S. universities as breeding grounds for “anti-American” sentiment. One of the most controversial actions came last week when the Department of Homeland Security temporarily revoked Harvard’s authorization to enrol foreign students—a decision swiftly overturned by a federal judge.
“This is a loss for all of humanity,” said Masaru Ishii, dean of the graduate school of medicine at Osaka University, referencing the broader implications of Washington’s academic restrictions.
Globally, institutions are taking note. Jessica Turner, CEO of Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a UK-based firm that publishes international university rankings, said universities in Germany, France, and Ireland are rapidly emerging as viable alternatives for students seeking stability. In the Asia-Pacific region, countries such as New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, and mainland China are gaining appeal among international applicants.
Shift in Student Preferences
Chinese students, who comprise a large portion of America’s international academic community, have been hit hardest by the Trump administration’s policies. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently vowed to “aggressively” tighten visa rules for Chinese nationals—a stance that directly affects more than 275,000 students currently enrolled across hundreds of American colleges.
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, international students contributed over $50 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023, with 54% coming from India and China alone.
The timing of these policy shifts could not be more critical, as the student intake season typically begins in August. Many students are now reconsidering their plans. Dai, a 25-year-old student from Chengdu, China, who had initially planned to pursue a master’s degree in the U.S., is now contemplating a switch to the UK. “The various policies (by the U.S. government) were a slap in my face,” she said. “I’m thinking about my mental health and it’s possible that I indeed change schools.”
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This growing unease is not limited to Chinese students. Tom Moon, deputy head of consultancy at Oxbridge Applications, noted increasing reluctance among British and European Union students to apply to U.S. institutions. Universities UK confirmed a rise in U.S.-based applications to British universities but cautioned that it remains to be seen whether interest will translate into actual enrollment.
Cost, Access, and Identity
Financial barriers also loom large. Ella Ricketts, an 18-year-old Canadian student at Harvard, shared her concern about the cost of relocating to another country if foreign enrolment at Harvard is permanently restricted. “Around the time I was applying to schools, the only university across the Atlantic I considered was Oxford… However, I realised that I would not be able to afford the international tuition and there was no sufficient scholarship or financial aid available,” she said.
Should she be forced to transfer, Ricketts said her likely choice would be the University of Toronto.
Analytics from QS show a 17.6% decline in visits to its “Study in America” online guide over the past year, with interest from India alone plummeting by more than 50%.
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“Measurable impacts on enrolment typically emerge within six to 18 months. Reputational effects, however, often linger far longer, particularly where visa uncertainty and shifting work rights play into perceptions of risk versus return,” Turner explained.
The long-term implications of these shifts extend beyond economics. Caleb Thompson, a 20-year-old American student at Harvard who lives with eight international scholars, warned of a potential brain drain: “If America turns these brilliant and talented students away, they will find other places to work and study.”
