International student enrolment in the United States is witnessing a steep decline this year, as several countries, including the United Kingdom and Asian education hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore, experience a significant surge in interest.
According to data analysis by NAFSA, an agency that promotes international education, new international enrolments in the US could fall by 30 to 40 percent this autumn.
This sharp drop is being attributed to a combination of policy tightening, visa delays, and political unrest, especially under the administration of former President Donald Trump.
The recent US policy direction includes more stringent visa screenings, pauses in visa appointments, and even threats of deportation linked to political activism.
“The American brand has taken a massive hit, and the UK is the one that is benefiting,” said Mike Henniger, CEO of Illume Student Advisory Services, as reported by AP.
LONG WAITS AND UNCERTAINTY
In countries like China, visa appointment backlogs have been so severe that some students are abandoning their plans to study in the US altogether.
On partial anonymity, Chinese student Alisa, who plans to attend a semester at the University of California, Berkeley, said she is also exploring backup options “just so I could still go to school if the extreme scenario occurs.”
Hong Kong has received over 500 enquiries from US-based international students seeking transfers, and about 200 applications are currently being processed, according to Hong Kong University. At the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, international undergraduate applications are up 40 percent this year.
UK AND AUSTRALIA CAPITALISE ON THE SHIFT
The United Kingdom, the second-most popular destination for global students, is seeing clear gains. Despite the new Labour government’s stance on cutting migration and setting time limits on post-study work visas, international applications have risen.
Official data shows a 2.2 percent rise in undergraduate applications this autumn, including a record 10 percent increase from China and a 14 percent surge in applications from the US. Graduate admissions are also up by 10 percent, particularly in business and management studies.
Australia, too, has moved to accommodate more international students, raising its intake cap to 2.95 lakh in 2026.
SHIFT TOWARDS ASIA AND SATELLITE CAMPUSES
Asian education centres like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia are becoming more attractive due to affordability and fewer visa challenges. Will Kwong of AAS Education said, “Opting for study in Asia has been a trend since the easing of COVID-19, but obviously it’s been exacerbated by the change of administration in the US.”
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee, has assured that the city would welcome students denied US entry. The city has recently allowed international students to work part-time.
Meanwhile, countries like the United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan are gaining traction by offering branch campuses of foreign universities. Dubai now hosts dozens of international institutions, with its international student numbers growing by a third in 2024-25.
Lisa Johnson of Dubai’s American Academy for Girls remarked, “Every student wants and dreams to go to Harvard. But as college options increase in the United Arab Emirates, more and more students are staying.”
Institutions like Illinois Tech and the University of Arizona have begun offering degrees in Kazakhstan, appealing to students from China and Russia.
Daniel Palm, who has helped US universities expand overseas, noted the ongoing challenge: “All of a sudden, US colleges are asking how to provide diversity, provide access, because you have students who want to come to the US and can’t.”
(With inputs from AP)
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