By Aneet Kaur
Getting accepted to Harvard is a huge achievement for any student. But what if, after all that hard work, they suddenly found out they might not be allowed to finish their degree?
Right now there are hundreds of international students at Harvard who are facing a huge problem because of a clash between the university and the Trump administration in the US.
Harvard has been accused by the government of not doing enough to stop antisemitism after protests supporting Palestine broke out on campus. The Trump administration says Harvard is breaking federal rules by letting these protests happen without proper action. Because of this, they are threatening to stop Harvard from enrolling or keeping international students.
Harvard is one of the most well-known universities in the world. This fight means that international students who have already started their studies, or want to start soon, might not be able to stay or even graduate.
This matters for lots of students who dream of studying abroad at top US universities like Harvard, MIT or Yale. If this ban goes ahead, it could cause other universities to start doing the same; the US will start to feel a lot less welcome to international students.
There are currently more than 6,800 international students are at Harvard, including hundreds from India, Pakistan and the UK. One student, Shreya Mishra Reddy, told the BBC that her family was “ecstatic” when she got into Harvard’s leadership programme. Now, she’s heartbroken that she might not even graduate (BBC).
Harvard isn’t taking this quietly. They’ve started a legal fight, saying the government’s move is “unlawful”, promising to protect their international students. A federal judge has already blocked the ban for now, with a big court hearing planned for May 29 to decide what happens next.
Students who’ve worked for years to get into their dream university could lose it all in one decision. Some have already signed leases, made life plans and might have to leave the country within just 72 hours.
The suspension is set to last six months (BBC) affecting both new admissions and ongoing exchange programmes at Harvard. While the university has launched legal action, the long term outcome remains uncertain.
This move could influence how other US universities respond and may make international students think twice about applying to America’s top institutions. For students in the UK and beyond, it’s a reminder that while challenges exist, the US continues to be an important destination for global education.