Global Universities Seek to Attract Students Amid Trump’s Crackdown on U.S. Education

 

In response to President Donald Trump’s aggressive policies targeting international students and top U.S. universities, institutions worldwide are intensifying efforts to lure students displaced or deterred by U.S. restrictions. Countries like Japan, China, and regions across Europe and Asia-Pacific are offering incentives such as tuition waivers, research grants, and streamlined admissions to attract students and researchers, especially those from the U.S.

Osaka University, Kyoto University, and Tokyo University in Japan are among those actively recruiting U.S.-bound students, while Chinese universities like Xi’an Jiaotong University are appealing directly to Harvard students affected by Trump’s recent actions. Meanwhile, Hong Kong universities are encouraging top talent from the U.S.

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Trump’s administration has enacted significant funding cuts for research, restricted visas—particularly targeting Chinese students—and threatened to revoke Harvard’s ability to enroll foreign students, though this move was temporarily blocked by a federal judge. These policies have caused concern among students and universities, leading many to consider alternative destinations such as the UK, Canada, Australia, and other parts of Europe and Asia-Pacific.

The potential brain drain could have long-term reputational and economic consequences for U.S. higher education, which relies heavily on international students, especially from China and India. A decline in interest and applications is already visible, with visa uncertainties and policy shifts impacting perceptions of the U.S. as an attractive study destination.