This article provides feedback from various sources and supports the concerns members of the higher education community have regarding the current US political climate and international student application numbers. Key comments include ‘42% of students from various countries report that they are now unlikely to consider the US as a study destination’, and that the number of international students applying to US based masters and PhD applications have decreased by 5%.
Other concerns raised point to an increase in the number of US-based students looking to study undergraduate programs elsewhere, and there’s also evidence that there are larger shifts occurring as other countries gain in popularity as alternatives to the US. Examples of these countries include New Zealand, the UK, Spain, and others that are looked upon as stable, inclusive, and have more progressive political situations.
When I speak with international admission staff, there is always discussion about where most of their international applicants are coming from, and concerns continue to be expressed that as a result of both policy changes and perceived risk, that international applications will continue to be impacted negatively.
