Chicago – April 15, 2025
More students from the United States are applying to Canadian universities or showing interest in studying there as a result of changes made by former President Donald Trump. These changes included cutting federal funding to U.S. universities and cancelling foreign student visas.
At the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, officials reported a 27% increase in graduate school applications from U.S. students for the 2025 academic year compared to all of 2024. Due to the higher demand, UBC briefly reopened applications for U.S. students and plans to fast-track their applications for September.
Other universities, like the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo, also noticed an increase in interest from U.S. students. Although the reasons for the rise were not mentioned by these universities, UBC officials pointed to U.S. government policies as the reason for the surge.
Under the Trump administration, U.S. universities faced funding cuts and were pressured to change their policies. The government also began deporting foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests and canceled the visas of hundreds of others. These actions raised concerns about academic freedom and free speech in the U.S.
However, Canada has limited the number of international students allowed into the country for the second year in a row. This means fewer spots may be available for students from the U.S. and other countries. Canada’s immigration ministry has said that universities must only accept as many students as they can support, including offering enough housing options.
