Global Demand for US Master’s Degrees Falls by 60% Amid Policy Uncertainty
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International student demand for US master’s degrees has plummeted by 61% in 2025, raising concerns about the country’s long-term ability to attract global talent. The data, drawn from Studyportals’ analysis of more than 50 million prospective students, highlights the scale of the downturn since Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
The steep decline coincides with heightened uncertainty over student visa rules, Optional Practical Training (OPT) and H-1B work authorisations. In recent weeks, the Trump administration has hiked the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 and floated proposals to prioritise higher-paid workers. Sector leaders warn that curbing OPT could be next, a move that experts say would dramatically reduce international enrolment.
“Prospective students and their families weigh not only academic reputation but also regulatory stability and post-graduation prospects,” said Studyportals CEO Edwin van Rest. “Right now, those factors are working against institutions in the US.”
Surveys suggest that eliminating OPT would reduce enrolment likelihood from 67% to 48%, while nearly half of current international students would abandon plans to stay in the US if H-1B visas were restructured. Analysts caution that policy changes are damaging both recruitment and retention, undermining the contribution of international students to research, innovation and competitiveness.
Although federal SEVIS data indicated a marginal 0.8% rise in international student numbers this semester, experts believe this is partly due to OPT extensions, with fewer new arrivals on campuses. Meanwhile, sharp declines in demand from India, Iran and Nepal have compounded the fall, though modest growth has been recorded from Vietnam and Bangladesh.
The shift is reshaping global education markets. The UK and Ireland have gained the most relative market share of student interest, each up 16% compared with 2024, while Australia, Sweden, Spain and Austria all recorded increases of around 12%.
With international students comprising over half of enrolments in US STEM programmes and 70% in AI-related fields, observers warn the policy climate could erode the very disciplines that underpin America’s economic competitiveness.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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