Earlier on this month, it was revealed that Trump planned to block international students from studying at Harvard and other elite universities in the US as he ordered embassies to stop preparing student visas.
Now, the results of his actions are showing a decline in US interest as a study destination.
Trump’s policy
The policy that Trump is looking to introduce included widespread visa revocations, blocking international students at Harvard University, and a travel ban on 12 countries.
These regulations are being enforced upon enrolment and will control application levels for the incoming year.
Pie News says that speakers are warning of longer-term damage to the overall perception of the US.
Declining interest
“No one is banking on the US as a destination,” said Rachit Agrawal, co-founder of Indian education consultant AdmitKard .
Pie News says, “Of the students Agrawal supports, demand for the US has declined by 40%, with interest set to plummet by more than 70% in 2025 if the trend continues.”
Recent Studyportals data show interest in the US to be falling to its lowest point since the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic, with students applying to a number of different global institutions to avoid risks caused by Trump’s unpredictability.
“Chinese families don’t want to take a bet and spend a whole chunk of money without knowing what’s going to happen, they would rather choose friendly destinations,” said Junshi Zhao, China market development head at Duolingo English Test. Zhao also said that the trust was “gone” between China and the US.
Benefits for other countries
Zhao also says that instead of applying to just one destination, Chinese students applying to the US are now more likely to apply to two countries (72%) and 36% are applying to three.
It was also highlighted that the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore as the destinations benefitting. In accordance with this, two recent student surveys also proved that the UK had risen to the most popular destination among Indian students, this was proven by Rachit Agrawal and the students he works with.
US isn’t the only country to decrease in desirability as a student destination
However, it seems that it isn’t just the US witnessing a decrease in international applicants. Pie News reveals that during the first quarter of this year, Canadian study permits dropped to their lowest level since the pandemic. This occurs as tensions between Canada and India contribute further to the rise of non-traditional study destinations outside the ‘big four’.
Information sourced from Pie News.
