U.S. Politics Spark Strong Surge in Canadian University Interest

Mounting apprehension over academic freedom, research funding, and the overall climate for students and scholars in the U.S.

Toronto — A growing number of American students are turning to Canadian universities as U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies pressure on higher education institutions, experts and university officials report. The trend reflects mounting apprehension over academic freedom, research funding, and the overall climate for students and scholars in the United States.

Stephen Sireci, director of the Center for Educational Assessment at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, says Trump’s recent executive orders-aimed at overhauling university accreditation and curbing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives-have alarmed both domestic and international students.

“The message is that universities should get in line and follow everything Trump wants to do, but there’s been a lot of rejection of that message,” Sireci told China Daily.

Since April, the Trump administration has frozen hundreds of millions in federal funding to universities, including Ivy League institutions like Harvard and Columbia, and demanded sweeping policy changes. These actions, coupled with the revocation of student visas and the targeting of foreign students involved in campus protests, have led to a perception that the U.S. is no longer a safe or welcoming destination for international scholars.

Data from several Canadian universities supports this shift.

The University of British Columbia (UBC) reported a 27% increase in graduate applications from U.S. citizens for the 2025 academic year compared to 2024. UBC even temporarily reopened admissions for certain graduate programs to accommodate the surge. The University of Toronto, Canada’s largest university, also noted a significant rise in U.S. applications, while the University of Waterloo saw a 15% increase in web traffic from American visitors since September 2024.

University officials attribute much of this interest to the volatile environment in U.S. higher education.

“This, particularly due to the recent crackdown on international student visas in the United States and the establishment of a center monitoring foreign students’ social media,” said UBC Vancouver’s provost. Glen Jones, a professor of higher education at the University of Toronto, explained, “Those who see themselves as negatively impacted by the change in direction associated with the Trump government are more likely to look for new alternatives.”

The Trump administration’s policies have not only affected students but also threaten the broader research ecosystem. Sireci warns that suspending federal funds could have “serious ramifications,” undermining scientific progress and the U.S.’s global academic standing. “To keep up that level of excellence, we need to recruit and retain some of the best stars from across the globe. Any policies that inhibit that are going to affect our global competitiveness,” he said.

The risk of a “brain drain” is real, Sireci added, as both students and faculty may seek opportunities abroad if current trends continue. “If there are policies to discourage people from applying or people who are accepted from coming, that’s going to affect the number of scientists and intellectuals in the United States, for sure.”

Meanwhile, Canadian universities are navigating their own challenges. The federal government has imposed a cap on international student visas for the second consecutive year, limiting the number of spots available to all non-Canadian applicants, including Americans. 

Still, university leaders see the influx of US students as a way to offset declines in applications from other countries due to the cap.

The developments in the U.S. have also prompted Canadian institutions to reaffirm their commitment to academic freedom and inclusion. “As Canadian university leaders look at what is happening in the US, they are clearly concerned about the erosion of academic freedom,” Jones said, emphasizing the importance of protecting these values in Canada.

U.S. Politics Spark Strong Surge in Canadian University Interest (April 28, 2025)

#AcademicFreedom #USCanadaEducation #TrumpUniversityPolicy #BrainDrain #StudyInCanada #HigherEdCrisis #StudentMigration #UniversityFunding #DEI #InternationalStudents

Tags: Trump, U.S. universities, Canadian universities, academic freedom, student migration, higher education, university funding, international students, DEI, brain drain, student visas, University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, University of Waterloo, Harvard, lawsuits, federal funding, research funding