US tariffs: Where do we go now?

Potential shifts in US policies and the global environment could significantly impact international students’ study abroad decisions, says ICEF Monitor.

ICEF Monitor, the market intelligence resource arm of ICEF, has suggested that potential shifts in US policies and the global environment could significantly impact international students’ study abroad decisions.

The analysis points to several possible features:

• Reduced demand for US study: This could be driven by concerns about visa refusals, revocations, or detention based on perceived conflicts with US interests. Additionally, global trade issues may impact students’ family incomes, making US study unaffordable. The article also notes that non-white, LGBTQ+, and other minority students might be more hesitant due to the US political climate and the potential elimination of DEI efforts.  
• Lower overall international student mobility: Reduced US aid to poorer countries and paused WHO funding could force governments to reallocate education budgets to healthcare, potentially decreasing government-funded scholarships and negatively affecting educational quality in source countries. A potential recession could also lead foreign institutions to reduce their international scholarship offerings, it says.
• Diversion of demand to alternative destinations: The report highlights that President Trump’s foreign policies have affected many of the top countries for international student mobility. This could lead to a reversal of the recent trend where the US gained market share. Asian students might increasingly choose Asian countries like China, while EU students may opt for study within the EU or consider Asia or Latin America. Ascending Middle Eastern destinations like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, as well as Russia, could also see increased interest.  

The article concludes that the shifting global order presents a more challenging recruitment environment for US institutions, while other destinations will face both opportunities from diverted demand and challenges related to financially pressured students. It emphasises the importance of consistent communication and sharp market-listening skills for adapting internationalisation and recruitment strategies.  

Credit: ICEF Monitor. Read the article in full here.