Malaysia Redirects US-Bound Students Amid Visa Chaos and Rising Uncertainty
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Malaysia has redirected over 130 students away from the United States to alternative study destinations, citing ongoing visa disruptions and rising instability under the Trump administration.
According to Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), a Malaysian government agency responsible for funding overseas education, a total of 131 students originally bound for the US have now been rerouted to the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
“With the recent policy changes introduced by President Trump, we are taking a serious look at the potential impact on our students there, including rising living costs and academic disruptions,” said Mara Chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki during a visit to the UK on 1 June.
His comments came shortly after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio imposed a global freeze on student visa interview scheduling, causing widespread delays. Although the suspension was lifted on 26 June, new social media vetting rules have since further complicated processing, prompting institutions and students to reconsider plans.
Of the 131 Malaysian students, 78 are now headed to the UK, 28 to Canada, 22 to Australia, and three to New Zealand. All hold conditional offers from top-ranking universities, including Imperial College London, the University of Toronto, and the University of Melbourne.
In May 2025, the US issued just 95 F-1 visas to Malaysian students, a steep 40% decline from the same month in 2024. More drops are expected in June due to the residual effects of the visa interview freeze.
According to the latest IIE Open Doors report, 4,816 Malaysian students were enrolled in US institutions in 2023/24. However, rising affordability concerns and unpredictable policy shifts are accelerating the move away from the US.
The British Council has since noted that UK universities are well-positioned to benefit from this redirection, particularly in STEM-focused programmes. Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also announced plans to send more students to the UK, citing favourable costs.
Meanwhile, New Zealand has set its sights on welcoming 35,000 more international students by 2034, strengthening its position as a growing hub for global education.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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