May 29, 2025
PETALING JAYA – Malaysian students are reconsidering their plans to pursue higher education in the United States, following policy changes introduced by the Trump administration.
Their uncertainty came amid reports that US state secretary Marco Rubio has told US embassies to stop scheduling interviews for student visas as the country prepares to expand social media vetting of these applicants.
The suspension is reported to be temporary and does not apply to applicants whose visa interviews have been lined up.
This news came following Trump’s bid on May 22 to block Harvard University’s ability to enrol international students. Although this move has since been temporarily blocked by a US judge, the latest state of affairs has caused concerns among prospective students like Karen Tay Swee Ping.
Tay, 25, said the current situation had disrupted her postgraduate study plans, leaving her unsure of how to proceed with her application. She said she had initially wanted to pursue a master’s degree in chemistry in the United States, but had since decided to look elsewhere.
“An extended pause like this doesn’t just affect travel – it affects enrolment timelines, scholarship applications and accommodation plans. Everything gets pushed back.
“I’ve started exploring other options like Taiwan, Singapore and local universities,” she said.
Maya Devi (pic), 18, who aspired to study international business law at Harvard, said the unpredictability of the situation had made her less confident about pursuing higher education in the United States.
“Malaysia itself offers a wide range of courses in many prestigious universities, so after some contemplation, I would much rather study here,” she said.
Another prospective student, Mandy Lim Yie Zhen, 25, said she had planned to study in the United States to gain global exposure in the field of marine biology.
“But after the recent political shifts, everything feels unstable and unpredictable. It’s risky to invest so much when the future is so uncertain. I’m considering Australia and Singapore instead,” she said.