Following a sharp change in knowledge coverage under president Donald Trump, more individuals who reside in the United States are now looking to Canada for higher education. His management has reduced federal funding for a number of institutions and revoked the visas of numerous international students, particularly those who attend pro-Palestinian presentations. Deportation trials have even begun for some.
According to CNN, officials at the University of British Columbia ( UBC ) in Vancouver reported a 27 % increase in graduate applications from US citizens for the 2025 academic year compared to the previous cycle. This year, the university briefly reopened admissions to meet increased demand, with plans to move programs to American applicants starting in September.
Gage Averill, UBC’s vice president, attributed the increase to Trump’s immigration restrictions and the expansion of student social media monitoring.
Averill cited the current crackdown on visas for foreign students, as well as the establishment of a facility that reads international students ‘ social media accounts.
Additionally, interest and programs from students from US universities have increased at the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo. Since September 2024, the website traffic from the US has increased by 15 % to Waterloo.
Trump’s knowledge policy has focused on punishing colleges that continue to support climate science or diversification initiatives, putting some organizations in jeopardy. Federal money worth hundreds of millions of dollars have been frozen as a result.
Schools are still trying to handle the increase in American interest despite Canada imposing a cap on global scholar admissions for the second consecutive year. Officials claim that they only expect institutions to accept as many students as they can help, including providing adequate cover.
