Despite the United States once being a top destination for international students due to its topnotch universities and promising job opportunities, the Trump administration has turned the country into a less attractive choice for international students and their parents. It can be argued that Trump has made changes to the immigration system more than any other US president. International student numbers in America have dropped for three years straight since 2016, according to the Institute of International Education. There was a 3% drop in 2016, followed by a 7% and 1% decrease in succeeding years. This fall, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows a 13.7% drop in undergraduate international students. Under Trump, the number of student visas issued decreased by 42%, with only 400,000 issued last year versus 700,000 in 2015. More international students who are already in the country want to return home due to the social and political climate. 

Schools in Canada that are considered Designated Learning Institutions (DLI) are able to welcome new international students as of October 20. To be considered a DLI, colleges, universities, and other educational institutions must have COVID-19 readiness plans approved by the government. Prior to this ruling, only international students with a valid student permit as of March 18, 2020 could enter Canada. The new ruling now requires the following from incoming international students: a valid study permit or a letter of introduction that shows a student was approved for a permit, and proof that the student will be attending a DLI with a coronavirus readiness plan. Students cannot travel to Canada if their program has been suspended or cancelled or if they are entering Canada for any reason other than to study. International students must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in the country. 

The United Kingdom government must act quickly to secure their place as a top international student destination. To ensure that students will contribute significantly to university research and the UK economy, the government has and will continue to take steps to accommodate international students. The UK government has made adjustments to visa policies to allow students to continue online or remote learning and extend their stay in the country. It has also moved forward with the post-study work visa that is valid for two years, but urged to double it to four years to further attract more international students. Further possibilities for the government to consider include reducing visa costs and implementing a single study visa system that encompasses all stages of a student’s journey. 

Universities UK (UUK) highlights the threats to freedom of speech and intellectual property as concerns of university students and officials, as revealed in the report “Managing Risks in Internationalisation: Security Related Issues”. UUK encourages institutions to allow students to join online classes and seminars or submit work anonymously. This is because students and academics might feel unable or uncomfortable to engage with topics that may be deemed sensitive or subject to legal restrictions in their home countries. While the report does not name any country in particular, China is known to have a national security law that makes it illegal to make subversive comments about the government, even in a classroom setting. Institutions must consider the safety of their staff and students, especially when conducting classes or lectures online that may be recorded. The move to virtual learning poses new challenges and risks that institutions must manage appropriately. 

While the move to allow 250 international postgraduate and PhD students into New Zealand has been well-received by the education sector, universities do not know how many students will actually take up the offer. Some students are considering the high cost of travelling to New Zealand and the risk of contracting COVID-19 during travel, and feel more comfortable staying where they are until circumstances change. New Zealand offers free healthcare for anyone who is suspected of having an infectious or quarantinable disease, but doctoral candidate Ali Khan says that is still not enough to encourage him to return as the costs and risks are simply too high. A returning flight costs at least three times the regular price, and incoming travellers would have to pay a NZ$3,100 (US$2,079) isolation fee on top of it. There are also not a lot of PhD students who are already enrolled and have a current visa. Chris Whelan, chief executive of Universities New Zealand, says that the slots that PhD students will not fill go to master’s students. He states that there are about 5,000 foreign students who are currently enrolled in New Zealand universities.

Boston University pushes back against the Department of Homeland Security’s proposal to limit student visas to either two or four years instead of allowing it to remain valid for the duration of their studies. President Robert A. Brown argues in a public comment that the rule will hurt international students and scholars, harm the US economy, and undermine the efforts of universities to attract and retain the best talent in the world. Brown urges that the proposed rule be withdrawn in its entirety and allow the current policy to remain in effect. The current framework allows international students to stay in the US for as long as they are pursuing full-time study and for Optional Practical Training after graduation. Jeanne Kelley, managing director of Boston University’s International Students and Scholars Office, says the new ruling will affect at least a third of their international student population and require them to submit applications for extensions every year. Association of American Universities President Barbra Snyder writes: “Now is not the time for the United States to introduce burdensome policies which threaten our resounding competitive advantage.”

The list of Designated Learning Institutions (DLI) keeps on growing as the federal government of Canada now allows international students to enter the country for studies in schools with approved COVID-19 readiness plans. Schools like Conestoga College and Wilfrid Laurier University are still waiting for the green light to reopen as the process the government uses to approve readiness plans is rather lengthy. However, institutions are aware of the necessities to bring back international students in a way that is safe. The COVID-19 readiness plans describe how schools will support and manage the needs of international students as and after they undergo the mandatory isolation period. In Ontario, the proposal passes through the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, the Ministry of Health, and local public health units before approval. 

The University of Sussex offers “carousel” degrees - courses that do not start in September like traditional ones - to attract more international students as part of bigger efforts to boost international student enrolment. The institution wants to ensure students who are interested in their courses have the opportunity to join at a different time, according to Vice-Chancellor Adam Tickell. The university also offers scholarships and up to 30% discount on fees to third-year undergraduate students should they choose to pursue a postgraduate degree in their next academic year. The move is in response to a study reporting that 47% of final-year students are considering postgraduate degrees due to anxiety over job prospects brought about by the pandemic. The extra start-dates are said to be a result of universities facing closure or mergers, rent strikes, and legal action from students who have been sold face-to-face teaching, which have then become virtual learning. 

International students have been struggling with the current situation in different ways. They are facing homesickness, financial hardship, anxiety and stress, and virtual learning on top of staying safe in the midst of a pandemic. Yuvraj Modi, a student in Northern College, says that most of his and fellow international students’ struggles stem from their inability to earn money during the pandemic. Modi has lost his job at a restaurant and is ineligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). He is thankful for the Guaranteed Investment Certificate money, a financial tool that helps international students incur savings to support living expenses in their first year. Under this mechanism, international students are required to put at least CAD$10,000 (US$7,600) in their Canadian bank account. Cam McEachern, executive director or student services, international research, and registrar at Northern College, points to attempts to help support students financially for rent and groceries. 

Research shows that 91% of college students feel greater stress and anxiety after the COVID-19 outbreak while 81% report that they feel disappointed and sad due to the pandemic. International students feel this and more as they struggle with time zone differences and remote learning. International students have to stay up as late as 1 or 2 am, or wake up as early as 5 am, to participate in online classes. This can cause students to experience multiple anxiety attacks and isolation from their peers. Visa restrictions include requiring international students to work for a minimum of one year on campus before getting an internship or a job. However, the pandemic is preventing students from being on campus, thus putting them in a dire predicament. Institutions are urged to make coming back to campus safe so that international students can salvage their mental health and feel that they are getting their tuition’s worth. 

Ireland is looking to become a top study destination for students from Nigeria, promoting its rich heritage, reasonable tuition, and reputable universities. The country may be small but proves to be a great place for international students from Nigeria to explore academic opportunities and career goals. Ireland offers international students up to two years post-study rights stay-back visas as well as work or internship opportunities during or after studies. It is also a desirable destination for Nigerian students because of its high-ranking universities and innovative courses and programs in fields such as Big Data, medicine, science, and technology. Nigerians can also easily adapt as they will study in an English-speaking country and are welcomed by some of the friendliest and most accommodating locals. Ireland consistently ranks among the safest countries in the world, making international students feel they are in a home away from home. 

International students in the US wonder if they are truly welcome in the country as challenges stack up against them. Visa fees are soaring, restrictions prevent them from working outside of campus, and employers are not so willing to hire international students. Those from across the country describe their apprehension toward the upcoming elections and claim that they feel powerless. While most students are aware of the difficulties that come with finding a job in the country, they did not expect it to feel this impossible. Due to Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric such as Muslim bans and claims of the “Hispanic Invasion,” international students hope that Trump does not win in the upcoming elections, based on a dozen interviews conducted by Teen Vogue. Many know their futures in the US are on the line, with one student claiming that she will not stay in the US if the current president wins again.

With campuses in Melfort, Tisdale, and Nipawin in Canada, Cumberland College has provided high-quality education and training for adults in the northeastern region of Saskatchewan since 1975. The college is committed to providing life-long learning opportunities so that students and their communities are prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. Cumberland College aims to make education more accessible and reaches out to First Nations and Métis communities in a culturally relevant manner. The college is centered on learning and promoting positive environments that encourage students’ personal growth. Cumberland College offers a variety of courses and programs that suit many kinds of post-secondary education goals. Students can explore Cumberland’s program pathways to finish their degrees in university; learn trades such as carpentry and mechanics; pursue continuing education for career advancement; become certified in short courses; and prepare for tests like the GED and SAT. Cumberland College offers undergraduate programs in business, Northern studies, education, and more.