Canadian Universities See Surge In Interest From American Students Amid Trump’s Visa Crackdown

Canadian universities are witnessing a huge influx of interest from American students as a result of growing concern regarding the shifting scenario of education under the policies of the US President, Donald Trump.

The recent moves by the Trump administration—such as cancelling visas for foreign students, intensified surveillance of foreign applicants on social media, and severe cuts to university funding—have driven most students and parents in the US towards seeking higher education overseas.

This change has resulted in a surge of applications and interest from American students at a number of Canada's top universities. According to The Guardian reports, the University of British Columbia (UBC), saw a 27% increase in graduate applications from US citizens as of March 1, surpassing the entire 2024 cycle.

According to the media reports, the increased demand even led UBC to temporarily reopen applications this week for a limited number of programs to allow for more US applicants to be accepted for the September 2025 intake.

The University of Toronto—a frequent second choice to Ivy League schools in the view of many—is also seeing higher-than-normal US applications. Likewise, the University of Waterloo has seen a 15% boost in web traffic from the US since September 2024, and increased campus visits by American students.

The US already stands in the top three internationally, in terms of countries exporting students to campuses in the country, with nearly 1,500 Americans being enrolled in graduate and undergraduate courses, UBC's annual report states. Even though the number of US undergraduate applications to UBC increased by only 2%, interest is growing, as seen by the 20% rise in US students' campus tours.

Regardless of the momentum, there are boundaries. The Canadian government has established a limitation on the number of foreign students universities can accept, including US students, to maintain enough housing and resources for them. But that has not curbed the growing popularity of Canadian institutions.

As the US struggles with court cases and street protests regarding student visas and education policies, Canada is becoming a more desirable and stable option for higher education.

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