· Singaporean Harvard students offered placements at local universities amid U.S. visa uncertainties.
· Trump administration revoked Harvard’s SEVP certification, threatening international students’ status.
· Singapore’s MFA actively supports affected students through diplomatic engagement and support channels.
Singaporean undergraduates currently studying at Harvard University have been informed that they can apply to continue their education at local autonomous universities should they choose to return home in light of recent developments in the United States.
Singapore’s Ambassador to the U.S., Mr Lui Tuck Yew, conveyed this message during a virtual town hall with affected students on May 30, The Straits Times has learned. A Ministry of Education (MOE) spokesperson confirmed that the Republic’s autonomous universities are prepared to accommodate returning students, emphasizing that this option was offered to provide flexibility for those impacted by the evolving situation.
Singapore has six autonomous universities: National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT).
Currently, there are 151 Singaporean students enrolled at Harvard, including 12 recipients of the prestigious Public Service Commission (PSC) scholarships.
This development follows a May 22 announcement by the Trump administration revoking Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP) certification, effectively threatening the visa status of nearly 6,800 international students. Students were instructed to either transfer or face deportation.
Although a federal judge later intervened, prompting the administration to retract the revocation on May 29 and grant Harvard 30 days to respond, uncertainty remains. President Trump has since continued applying pressure on Harvard, including signing a proclamation on June 4 that suspends new foreign student entries and directs the U.S. Secretary of State to review current student visas based on specific criteria.
The policy targets Harvard specifically and does not affect foreign students enrolled in other U.S. institutions. It also exempts those whose entry is deemed in the national interest of the United States.
In response, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has been actively monitoring the impact on its nationals. The Singapore Embassy in Washington has been engaging with the U.S. State Department and Department of Homeland Security, while support systems such as a communication group hosted by MFA’s Consular Department and the Singapore Global Network have been set up to assist affected students.
Amid a broader clampdown on international student visas, reports indicate that the U.S. Secretary of State has directed embassies to halt new student and exchange visa appointments, while also planning stricter social media vetting. Only existing visa appointments are being honoured under the current guidance.
