In China, waiting times for American visa conversations are so long that some students have given up. University of Hong Kong is aimed at questions about transfer from foreign students in the US and international applications for British higher education programs have increased.
President Donald Trump’s administration is pushing American universities to reduce their dependence on international enrollment and add new layers of control for foreign students in their intervention against immigration.
The US government tried to deport foreign students to participate in pro-Palestinian activism. In the spring, it suddenly abolished the legal position of thousands of foreign students, including some whose only brush with the enforcement of the right was a transport card. After the conversion of the course, the government suspended a new appointment of student visas and yet introduced a process for screening accounts of social media accounts.
The US remains the first choice for many international students, but institutions elsewhere recognize the opportunity in shocks and candidates are considering destinations that they could otherwise overlook. The impact on American universities – and the national economy – can be significant.
This autumn, the new international entry in the US could drop by 30 percent to 40 percent, according to the Visa and Enrollment Data analysis from NAFSA, an agency that supports international education.
According to the analysis, this would deprive the US economy $ 7 billion in expenditure. Many international students pay full price, so their absence would also damage budgets for university.
Britain stands because the US has a “massive hit”
The second most popular destination for foreign students is Britain’s position in favor.
The new government of the country’s work has committed to reducing migration, and officials stored time limits for visas after their studies that allow graduates to stay and work. However, admission consultants argue that the United Kingdom is still considered to be the most accommodating from the traditional “large four” English-speaking destinations in higher education-US, Great Britain, Canada and Australia.
After declining last year, the number of international applications for higher education in the UK increased by 2.2 %this autumn, they show official data. The record number of applications came from China, which is 10 percent compared to the previous year. The US application also reached almost 8,000 students-growing 14 percent and 20 years tall.
The adoption of international students for postgraduate programs in the UK has increased an estimated 10 percent compared to last year, which is, according to data from Uniquest, which works with many British universities, driven mainly by demand for business and managerial courses.
The data showing the scope of any impact will not be available until autumn, said Mike Henniger, CEO of Illme Student Advisory Services, advice that works with universities in the US, Canada and Europe. “But the American brand has carried out a massive intervention and the United Kingdom is the one that will benefit,” he said.
Staying in Asia becomes more popular
The demand of Chinese students quickly rose to universities in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, said Will Kwong, CEO of Aas Education, advice in Hong Kong. Many Western universities have offshore campuses that are more accessible than going to the US or Great Britain.
“The decision to study in Asia has been a trend since the release of Covid-199,” Kwong said. “But of course it was impaired by changing the US administration.”
Some Asian families told him that the US is no longer their first choice because of political turbulence and visa problems, many are still waiting for American visa interviews and will probably miss the beginning of the autumn season, Kwong said.
The Chinese university student Alisa, who studies data science, plans to participate in the exchange program at the University of California in Berkeley this autumn. He hopes to have a master’s degree in the US.
But he also deals with other options “Just to go to school if there is an extreme scenario,” said Alisa, who spoke on conditional anonymity for fear of targeting.
Hong Kong will welcome all the students who are denied entering the US, said John Lee’s leader. Last year, Chinese territory decided to allow foreign students to work part -time.
The University of Hong Kong said it has received more than 500 questions from students in the US and processes approximately 200 transfer applications. At another school, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, International College applications increased by 40 percent of last year, Alison Lloyd, associated with institutional data and research, said.
Shocks could be beneficial for countries with satellite campuses
The country, including the United Arab Emirates, has invested a significant amount in attracting foreign students working with universities elsewhere to host branches. These arrangements could appeal to students who are afraid to leave them access to the US.
Dubai, who has suggestions on how to become a global educational center, hosts dozens of satellite campuses of international institutions. In 2024-2025 she saw international students’ figures by a third.
Lisa Johnson, director of the private American Academy for Girls in Dubai, said her Emirati’s student body would be more and more averted from the US to college.
“Every student wants and dreams go to Harvard,” she said. “But as the possibilities of university increase in the United Arab Emirates, more and more students remain.”
Kazakhstan has similar ambitions, said Daniel Palm, who helped us to set up campuses abroad. Illinois Tech and the University of Arizona are among the universities offering study programs in the Central Asian country and attract students mainly from China and Russia.
“Suddenly, American universities ask how to provide diversity, provide access,” Palm said, “because you have students who want to come to the US and can’t.”
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