Harvard, Toronto Establish Contingency Plan for International Students Amid US Visa Uncertainty

Harvard University and the University of Toronto have established a contingency plan allowing select Harvard international graduate students to continue their studies in Canada if U.S. visa restrictions prevent their return. This collaboration enables students to take a combination of online and in-person courses taught by faculty from both Harvard Kennedy School and the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, preserving their ability to graduate with a Harvard degree. The plan was developed following the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s move to restrict Harvard’s enrollment of international students, a decision later blocked by a federal judge, maintaining students' ability to enter the U.S. for study. The contingency applies only to returning international students who have completed at least one year at Harvard’s U.S. campus and aims to mitigate uncertainty amid the Trump administration’s visa policies and threats to cut federal research funding to Harvard over national security and other concerns. This initiative is the first international student backup strategy of its kind and reflects broader anxieties among international students at U.S. universities facing new immigration restrictions. Universities involved emphasize their commitment to maintaining academic continuity and supporting affected students despite ongoing political and legal challenges.