LONDON (AP) \u2014 In China, wait times for U.S. visa interviews are so long that some students have given up. Universities in Hong Kong are fielding transfer inquiries from foreign students in the U.S., and international applications for British undergraduate programs have surged.<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump\u2019s administration has been pressuring U.S. colleges to reduce their dependence on international enrollment<\/a> while adding new layers of scrutiny for foreign students as part of its crackdown on immigration.<\/a><\/p>\n The U.S. government has sought to deport foreign students for participating in pro-Palestinian activism<\/a>. In the spring, it abruptly revoked the legal status<\/a> of thousands of international students, including some whose only brush with law enforcement was a traffic ticket. After reversing course<\/a>, the government paused new appointments for student visas while rolling out a process for screening applicants\u2019 social media accounts<\/a>.<\/p>\n The U.S. remains the first choice<\/a> for many international students, but institutions elsewhere are recognizing opportunity in the upheaval, and applicants are considering destinations they might have otherwise overlooked. The impact on U.S. universities \u2014 and the nation\u2019s economy \u2014 may be significant.<\/p>\n New international enrollment in the U.S. could drop by 30% to 40% this fall, according to an analysis of visa and enrollment data by NAFSA, an agency that promotes international education. <\/p>\n That would deprive the U.S. economy of $7 billion in spending, according to the analysis. Many international students pay full price, so their absence would also hurt college budgets.<\/p>\n Britain stands to gain as the US takes \u2018a massive hit\u2019 <\/p>\n As the second most popular destination for international students, Britain is positioned to benefit.and <\/p>\n The country\u2019s new Labour government has vowed to cut migration<\/a>, and officials have imposed time limits on post-study visas allowing graduates to stay and work. But admissions consultants say the United Kingdom is still seen as the most welcoming of the traditional \u201cbig four\u201d English-speaking destinations in higher education \u2014 the U.S., U.K., Canada<\/a> and Australia.<\/p>\n After declining last year, the number of international applications for undergraduate study in the U.K. this fall grew by 2.2%, official figures show. A record number of applications came from China, up 10% compared with the previous year. Applications from the U.S. also reached nearly 8,000 students \u2014 an increase of 14% and a 20-year high.<\/p>\n Acceptances of international students for graduate programs in the U.K. grew an estimated 10% from last year, driven by demand for business and management courses in particular, according to data from UniQuest, which works with many British universities on admissions.<\/p>\n Data showing the extent of any impact will not be available until fall, said Mike Henniger, CEO of Illume Student Advisory Services, a consultancy that works with colleges in the U.S., Canada and Europe. \u201cBut the American brand has taken a massive hit, and the U.K. is the one that is benefiting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Staying in Asia is becoming more popular<\/p>\n Demand from Chinese students has risen rapidly for universities places in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, said Will Kwong, managing director of AAS Education, a consultancy in Hong Kong. Many Western universities have offshore campuses there that are more affordable than going to the U.S. or U.K.<\/p>\n \u201cOpting for study in Asia has been a trend since the easing of COVID-19,\u201d Kwong said. \u201cBut obviously it\u2019s been exacerbated by the change of administration in the U.S.\u201d<\/p>\n Some Asian families have told him the U.S. is no longer their clear first choice because of political turbulence and visa difficulties, many are still waiting for U.S. visa interviews and will likely miss the start of the fall term, Kwong said. <\/p>\n Chinese college student Alisa, who is studying data science, plans to attend an exchange program this fall at the University of California, Berkeley. She hopes to pursue a master\u2019s degree in the U.S.<\/p>\n But she is also looking into other options \u201cjust so I could still go to school if the extreme scenario occurs,\u201d said Alisa, who spoke on condition of partial anonymity out of fear of being targeted.<\/p>\n Hong Kong will welcome any students who are denied entry to the U.S., the city\u2019s leader John Lee has said. Last year, the Chinese territory decided to allow international students to work part-time.<\/p>\n Hong Kong University said it has received over 500 inquiries from students in the U.S. and is processing around 200 applications for transfer. At another school, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, international undergraduate applications have surged by 40% from last year, said Alison Lloyd, associate provost on institutional data and research.<\/p>\n Upheaval could be a boon for countries with satellite campuses<\/p>\n Countries including the United Arab Emirates have invested heavily in attracting international students by partnering with universities elsewhere to host branch campuses. These arrangements could appeal to students who fear being denied access to the U.S.<\/p>\n Dubai, which has designs on becoming a global education hub, hosts dozens of international institutions\u2019 satellite campuses. It saw international student numbers grow by a third in 2024-2025. <\/p>\n Lisa Johnson, principal of Dubai\u2019s private American Academy for Girls, said her mostly Emirati student body is increasingly looking away from the U.S. for college. <\/p>\n