Harvard Partners with University of Toronto to Protect International Students Amid US Visa Uncertainty

By Advay June 28, 2025
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Harvard University has announced a contingency partnership with the University of Toronto to safeguard international students’ academic progress, as President Trump’s visa crackdown continues to target Ivy League institutions.

In a bold move, the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (HKS) confirmed that returning international students will be able to continue their studies at Canada’s University of Toronto (UToronto) should they face difficulties entering the United States.

“With these contingency plans in place, HKS will be able to continue providing a world-class public policy education to all of our students, even if they cannot make it to our campus this year,” said HKS Dean Jeremy Weinstein.

The plan, developed in collaboration with the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, offers students a hybrid model, combining online learning with in-person sessions delivered globally. Returning students will also have the option to attend in-person classes at UToronto, co-taught by faculty from both institutions.

International students comprise 52% of HKS’s student body, compared to 27% across Harvard as a whole. This makes the Kennedy School the first at Harvard to formally establish an alternative pathway for its large international student population amid mounting legal uncertainty.

The move comes as Canada increasingly positions itself as a safe haven for students affected by shifting US immigration policies. Students opting to study at UToronto will be required to apply for a Canadian study permit by mid-July.

This development follows months of pressure from the Trump administration, which attempted to prevent Harvard from enrolling international students. Although federal courts have temporarily blocked those efforts, the threat persists.

“This is an important alliance at a time when many forces are pulling us apart,” said Canadian Senator Tony Dean, a senior fellow at the Munk School.

Harvard President Alan Garber reaffirmed the university’s commitment to its international students, stating: “From down the street, across the country, and around the world… just as it should be.”

Source: THE PIE NEWS

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