International postgraduate interest in US drops by 40%

Research StudyPortals highlights a sharp decline in U.S.-bound postgraduate interest, while the U.K. has seen a notable rise in attention from prospective students.

"The demand for foreign students looking to study a masters or PhD in the USA has dropped a dramatic 42% since the beginning of the year," said Edwin van Rest, co-founder and CEO of StudyPortals, a Dutch company offering an online platform for international study choices.

He added that growing visa rejection rates are "playing a significant role in dampening demand."

"The U.S. is risking not only billions of direct GDP but also losing a critical flow of talent that historically has had such a critical contribution to research, entrepreneurship and corporate leadership," he told University World News.

The decline in interest is particularly steep among Iranian and Bangladeshi students, with drops of 61% and 54%, respectively. Interest from students in India, Pakistan, and Nigeria has decreased by over 33%, according to StudyPortals data.

"Students are not just choosing programs, they’re choosing futures in places they perceive as stable, welcoming, and full of opportunity," said Cara Skikne, head of communication at StudyPortals.

She noted that the U.K. is increasingly viewed as an attractive alternative, thanks to its relatively stable policy environment.

StudyPortals also found that global student searches for U.S. and U.K. programs have risen nearly 20% over the past six months, with business & management and computer science courses seeing more than 25% growth. Nearly 7% of users considering U.S. bachelor’s or master’s degrees are also exploring options in the U.K.

Simultaneously, interest from American students seeking information on studying abroad has surged to historically high levels—around five times the usual volume on StudyPortals, comparable to the spike after Trump's election in November 2024.

"NAFSA (the Association of International Educators) is working with our partners in order to understand the changing federal policies," Fanta Aw, the organization’s executive director and CEO, told University World News.

"But it’s entirely understandable that students thinking of coming to the United States are confused. We keep saying that what is needed is greater clarity by the United States," Aw noted.

Since Trump’s return to power, more than a dozen executive orders have targeted education, including bans on federal support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Notably, one order states there are only two genders in the U.S. (male and female as determined at birth) and bans transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. Another order authorizes investigations into universities for antisemitism.

Most recently, the U.S. Department of State has directed consulates to intensify student visa vetting, particularly focusing on social media activity to identify potential links to terrorism. This follows high-profile visa cancellations and arrests related to pro-Palestinian activism on U.S. campuses.