Malaysia redirects students away from the US
Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), the government agency funding the students, said that 131 Malaysian students have been redirected to less volatile destinations, namely the UK, 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 June 1.
His statement came just days after US secretary of state Marco Rubio halted the scheduling of student visa interviews at the country’s embassies and consulates worldwide, setting in motion a near month-long freeze causing visa delays and cancellations to this day.
Asyraf confirmed the redirection plan to Malaysian media earlier this month, with more details expected in an upcoming parliamentary session next week.
It is understood that 78 students are rerouting to the UK, followed by 28 to Canada, 22 to Australia and three choosing New Zealand.
According to Asyraf, all the students hold conditional offers from QS top 100 global universities, including Imperial College London, University of Toronto, and the University of Melbourne, as reported by Malaysian news outlets.
In May 2025 – before the full impact of the visa freeze had taken effect – the US state department issued 95 F1 visas to Malaysian students, a 40% drop compared to the same period in 2024. Stakeholders anticipate further declines across the board in June.
According to the latest IIE Open Doors data, 4,816 Malaysian students studied in the US in 2023/24, though interest in the destination has waned due to affordability barriers and policy uncertainty under the Trump administration.
With the recent policy changes introduced by President Trump, we are taking a serious look at the potential impact on our students there
Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Mara
After lifting the visa interview freeze on June 26, the state department imposed new rules around social media vetting which are further compounding delays and causing widespread uncertainty among prospective students.
Reporting on Asyraf’s visit to the UK, the British Council highlighted the opportunity for UK institutions to attract more Malaysian students.
“With Mara redirecting students from the US, UK universities stand to benefit from an influx of high-achieving, government-sponsored students, particularly institutions with expertise in STEM fields like computer science, engineering, AI, and robotics,” it said.
According to the report, Malaysian deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced plans to send more students to the UK, citing lower living costs and tuition fees as contributing factors.
As previously reported in The PIE News, the appeal of the UK has been gaining momentum among international students, initially planning to study in the US.
Meanwhile, New Zealand recently announced an ambitious new internationalisation strategy, aiming to attract 35,000 more international students by 2034.
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