As another school year ends, students around the world don caps and gowns to take part in graduation ceremonies—a rite of passage which on the surface, all feels timeless. But beneath the tradition, the last few months have revealed a stark truth: everything has changed. For anyone in Singapore’s Class of 2026 planning to study overseas next year, especially to the USA, the situation is shaping up to be dramatically different from that of previous cohorts. And nowhere is that shift more visible—or more fraught—than in the journey international students now face in trying to access some of the very institutions that until recently felt so timeless.
From new application requirements to visa hurdles and shifting government policies, the path ahead is far less predictable than it was even last year. And while it might feel like there’s still plenty of time, for the Class of 2026, the application countdown has already begun.
That was then
When it comes to studying overseas, for many of us in Singapore, it’s traditionally been one of the Big 4: the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia. And we’re not alone—in 2023, 40% of the 6.4 million international students globally went to one of the Big 4, with the USA, unsurprisingly attracting the largest share: over 1.1 million international students. But as anyone who’s even casually followed the headlines knows, things have started to shift.
This is now
In the USA, those shifts have become particularly stark. Recent changes to student visa approvals reflect a growing trend of tighter restrictions, with the F-1 visa refusal rate climbing to 36% in 2023—meaning over 250,000 prospective students were turned away.
Even for those who do get in, securing long-term employment after graduation has become increasingly difficult, especially outside of STEM fields, not to mention potential changes to the USA’s OPT (“Optional Personal Training”) programme, which until now allowed an alternative path to short-term, post-graduation experiential work opportunities.
In addition, student visas can be revoked at any time for a wide variety of reasons. This is why more than 1,000 international students or recent graduates at colleges across the USA have had their visas revoked, according to Higher Ed. While some were deported due to minor legal infractions like traffic fines, most of those targeted have been involved in pro-Palestinian protests. A recent report indicated that more students are applying to Canadian universities or expressing interest in studying north of the border.
Reading between the (head)lines
So for those still considering the USA, it’s important to weigh not just the procedural admissions process, but also the broader factors that will shape your experience—even after you’ve been accepted.
1) Cuts to research funding
While dozens of elite American universities have multi-billion-dollar endowments, many more rely on some level of federal funding to support academic departments, research projects, and scholarships. Under recent measures targeting institutions seen as too “woke”, that funding is increasingly under threat—especially in public universities and smaller private colleges.
Even Harvard, the richest university in America, isn’t immune: it has recently been threatened with more than $2 billion in federal funding cuts. While Harvard is pushing back—defending the rights of private universities to admit students, hire faculty, and teach without partisan government interference—it raises a troubling question: if this is happening to Harvard, what does that mean for schools without a $53 billion endowment? Wondering if American school(s) you’re considering may be impacted? Here’s a breakdown of 77 major universities which are already at risk.
In the near term, STEM programmes will likely be some of the hardest hit by potential cutbacks in everything from undergraduate research projects, to new lab equipment, or the availability of future (paid) research assistant positions at the graduate level. For international students—many of whom want to study STEM in the USA— it adds an unpredictable layer of risk to planning their academic futures for at least the next 3 years.
And with more funding cuts expected as part of the White House’s broader backlash against DEI measures, the long-term impact on academic resources and opportunities remains—which brings us to our next point.
2) A changing campus climate
For many, studying in the USA has always represented a chance to learn freely, explore ideas, and engage in open dialogue. But that sense of freedom is starting to shift. The political backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives has cast a long shadow across campuses.
The result? A quieter, more cautious student culture. It’s not just about activism—students in fields like journalism, gender studies, history, or political science may now feel cautious about expressing certain views or pursuing sensitive topics could draw unwanted attention or even institutional consequences.
And it’s not limited to the classroom—this shift is being felt across campus life more broadly, from student clubs to orientation programming. So, for many, the unique social experience of studying in the US of A is starting to feel a bit different than it once was.
For a personal view of what’s happening now—beyond the big-name Ivy Leagues—at smaller public and private universities, check out this recent op-ed featuring student perspectives across different American campuses.
3) Cautious travel—and self-imposed limits
Officially, student visa re-entry rules haven’t changed. But anyone paying attention to the headlines has heard the stories of valid student visa holders denied entry, questioned, detained, or worse. While not systematic, these incidents have created a climate of uncertainty, as the Trump administration has already canceled the legal status (ie. their student visas, green cards) of international students since January, at over 80 American colleges and universities.
Many international students are now choosing to limit their travel—even during holidays or academic breaks—to avoid triggering scrutiny or risking re-entry complications. It’s not a formal policy, but it has very real consequences for how international students experience life in the USA.
What about alternative Big 4?
As a result, many students are now looking beyond the U.S. But for anyone considering one of the other Big 4—Australia, Canada, or the UK—the situation isn’t necessarily better. Canada has capped its total number of international study permits at 360,000, a 35% drop from the year before, in an effort to address its growing housing crisis (despite the fact foreign students make up only 4% of the population). Meanwhile, Australia has announced a pending intake cap of just 145,000 international students at public universities, after public outcries at the perceived lack of local university seats for Australians.
In the UK, while visa numbers haven’t been as intentionally slashed, post-study work rules have tightened and financial requirements have increased. At the same time, universities are under pressure: domestic tuition has been frozen since 2017, government funding has declined, and many institutions now rely heavily on higher-paying international students to stay afloat—leaving international applicants caught in the middle and contributing to a 31% drop in total student visas issued last year.
Each of the Big 4 countries is grappling with its own unique set of challenges, and over the past year, all have introduced more restrictive admission policies for international students. Combined with broader global issues from rising costs, to political uncertainty, and even personal safety concerns in many places, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for international students to plan their next move—prompting many to consider alternatives in Europe or Asia.
To go or not to go?
For those still drawn to the United States, it’s essential to go in with eyes wide open. The country continues to offer world-class institutions and diverse opportunities, but it’s also navigating a period of political, social, and economic turbulence. From visa uncertainties to campus safety and rising costs, international students must weigh not just the academic prestige, but the lived realities of studying there.
If you choose the USA, do so with careful preparation, a strong support network, and contingency plans. The world is changing, and so too are the options available to you.
