Malaysian students are feeling anxious in the wake of the U.S. government’s attempt to revoke Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, which permits it to host international students, according to insights released today by global proptech group Juwai IQI. The company works with many Malaysian cross-border buyers. For many, education is the reason for buying overseas property.
“A buyer told us today to put their purchase in the United States on hold,” said Juwai IQI Co-Founder and Group CEO Kashif Ansari, “because they aren’t certain if their daughter will be able to study there next year. She wasn’t planning on studying at Harvard, but the uncertainty of the situation worries them.
“About 4,800 Malaysian students are studying in U.S. universities and colleges, with 64% of them pursuing a bachelor’s degree, 20% a master’s degree, and 10% a doctorate.
“Massachusetts, which is where Harvard is located, is where more Malaysian students are studying than all but five other states. A total of 223 Malaysians are studying in Massachusetts right now1, and at least 17 are at Harvard itself2.
Top U.S. States for Malaysian Students3
| STATE | NO. OF STUDENTS | |
| 1 | CALIFORNIA | 821 |
| 2 | NEW YORK | 316 |
| 3 | MICHIGAN | 313 |
| 4 | WISCONSIN | 234 |
| 5 | IOWA | 229 |
| 6 | MASSACHUSETTS | 223 |
| * Source: Education Malaysia Washington DC 2025, students with F1 & M1 visas only | ||
“For many young people, studying overseas is the highlight of their life and an important experience that shapes their future careers and earning power.
“Hopefully, the current situation will be resolved without any students having to interrupt their education. A U.S. judge has temporarily paused the administration’s order for two weeks4. Total student numbers in the United States won’t change very much over the next few months, but if students change their minds about going to the country, numbers may fall significantly by this time next year.
“The U.S administration’s order directly targets only about 6,700 international students at Harvard. All one million overseas students in the country are affected, however, as they lose confidence in their ability to complete their degrees in the country.
“These students do have other options. Canada, Australia, and the UK will benefit most directly if students look for alternatives to the U.S. They will be able to choose from among the most qualified of the students who turn away from the U.S. Smaller education markets like Japan and the EU will also benefit, as will local universities in students’ home countries.”
| Country | Total Students | Int. Students | Chinese Students |
| United Kingdom | 2,904,425 | 732,285 | 98,000 |
| United States | 1,126,690 | 1,060,000 | 277,398 |
| Australia | 1,600,563 | 1,095,298 | 240,966 |
| Canada | 2,211,345 | 833,920 | 85,000 |
Sources: Juwai IQI, HESA, Open Doors, Australian Ministry of Education, Statistics Canada. Calendar years 2023 and 2024.
What Happens Next?
“Harvard is challenging the U.S. action in court. Legal experts say it may very well be quashed or temporarily restrained, which would mean students need not make any changes.
“If Harvard can’t successfully challenge the action, the 17 Malaysian and 6,700 other international students there will need to transfer to other universities in the United States or overseas. Harvard students are incredibly desirable to other universities.
“They have options, as there are 103 colleges or universities within 50 miles of Harvard, enrolling more than 600,000 students. These students could apply to transfer to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston University, Tufts University, Boston College, and Northeastern University and not even have to move out of the Boston area.”
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