LONDON (AP) – In China, waiting times for US visa interviews are extremely long, with some students giving up. Hong Kong universities are defending transfer inquiries from foreign students in the US, and international applications for UK undergraduate programs are rising.
President Donald Trump’s administration has put pressure on American universities to reduce their dependence International registration As part of this, adding a new layer of scrutiny for foreign students Immigration crackdown.
The US government attempted to deport foreign students Participating in pro-Palestinian activities. Suddenly in spring Legal status has been revoked Thousands of international students, including some international students whose only brushes for law enforcement were transport tickets. rear The reverse of the coursethe government suspended new student visa appointments while unfolding the process Screen applicants’ social media accounts.
The US remains First choice For many international students, but elsewhere, institutions recognize turbulent opportunities, and applicants are considering destinations that they may otherwise have overlooked. The impact on the economy of the US universities and nations can be significant.
New international registrations in the US could fall from 30% to 40% this fall, according to an analysis of visa and registration data by the NAFSA, an organization promoting international education.
Analysis shows that it would take $7 billion of spending from the US economy. Many international students pay in full, so their absence also hurts the university’s budget.
As the US gets a “smash hit”, the UK is in a position to earn profits
As the second most popular destination for international students, the UK is located to earn profits.
The country’s new labour government has I vowed to reduce the transitionand officials place time limits on post-study visas, allowing graduates to stay and work. However, admissions consultants say the UK is still considered the most welcome of the traditional “big 4” English-speaking destinations in higher education. US, UK, Canada and Australia.
After a decline last year, the number of international applications for undergraduate studies in the UK increased by 2.2% this fall, official figures show. A record number of applications come from China, up 10% compared to the previous year. Approximately 8,000 students also received applications from the US. This is a 14% increase and a 20-year high.
The acceptance of international students for UK graduate programs has increased by an estimated 10% since last year, particularly with demand for business and management courses.
Mike Henniger, CEO of Illume Student Advisory Services, said data showing the extent of the impact will not be available until fall, according to Mike Henniger, a consulting firm that works with universities in the US, Canada and Europe. “But the American brand has been a huge hit, and the UK is profitable,” he said.
Staying in Asia is becoming more popular
Will Kwong, managing director of Hong Kong consulting firm AAS Education, said demand from Chinese students is rising rapidly at university locations in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. Many western universities have offshore campuses that are more affordable than they go to the US or the UK
“Choosing research in Asia has been the first trend since Covid-19 eased,” Kwong said. “But obviously, that’s gotten worse by changes in US management.”
Some Asian families told him that the US is no longer their clear first choice due to political turmoil and visa difficulties.
Alisa, a Chinese university student studying data science, will be taking part in the exchange program this fall at the University of California, Berkeley. She wants to earn her master’s degree in the US
However, she also said she was looking at other options “to allow her to go to school even if an extreme scenario occurs.”
Hong Kong will welcome students who have been denied entry to the United States, city leader John Lee said. Last year, Chinese territory decided to allow international students to work part-time.
The University of Hong Kong said it has received more than 500 inquiries from US students and has processed around 200 applications for transfers. At another school at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, international faculty applications have skyrocketed 40% since last year, said Allison Lloyd, a provost at the Institute’s Association of Data and Research.
A dramatic change could benefit the nation with satellite campuses
Countries, including the United Arab Emirates, have invested heavily in attracting international students by partnering with other universities to host branch campuses. These arrangements can appeal to students who fear being denied access to the US
Designed to become a global education hub, Dubai hosts satellite campuses of dozens of international organizations. The number of international students increased by one third from 2024 to 2025.
Lisa Johnson, principal of Private American Academy for Girls in Dubai, said her mostly Emirati student organizations are moving away from the US because of the university.
“All students want to go Harvard“However, as the UAE university options increase, more and more students are staying.”
Kazakhstan has similar ambitions, Daniel Palm said. Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Arizona are one of the universities offering degree programs in Central Asian countries, attracting students primarily from China and Russia.
“Suddenly, US universities are asking how to provide diversity and access,” Palm said. “Because there are students who come to the US and can’t.”
___
Kanis Leung, Associated Press Writer in Hong Kong. Albee Chan of Washington, DC. Gabe Levin of Dubai contributed.
