Funding reductions and visa cancellations in the U.S., intensified by trade disputes and national security issues, are leading Chinese students to consider other countries for higher education. Heightened safety concerns and financial challenges are prompting many to reevaluate their aspirations of studying in America. As a result, universities in Italy, the UK, and China are witnessing a surge in interest from these students.
“I used to think politics was far away from me, but this year I really felt the impact of politics on international students,” said Yao, a student based in Chicago, who chose not to disclose her prospective university.
For 15 years, China had the largest number of international students in the U.S., until India surpassed it last year. In 2023, Chinese students contributed $14.3 billion to the American economy, according to Open Doors data.
However, within the U.S., this community has been increasingly viewed as a national security threat, with some likening them to spies from the Chinese Communist Party. Proposed legislation even threatens to bar them from attending universities.
Reuters interviewed 15 Chinese students, eight of whom are currently in the U.S. They reported that the combined challenges have heightened their safety concerns and financial burdens, leading many to reconsider their plans of studying in America.
