https://www.voanews.com/z/5270 We are an online community for international students who study in the U.S. or who want to study here. We help each other navigate the university experience though blogs, articles, images, audio, podcasts, video and social media like Facebook, Instagram, https://www.voanews.com/Content/responsive/VOA/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.voanews.com/z/5270 en 2026 - VOA 60 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:14:01 -0400 Pangea CMS – VOA It’s tough to gain admission to Yale University, and it’s getting even tougher for international students as standout students from around the world set their sights on Yale. The Yale Dale News, the campus newspaper, takes a look at the situation here. Read the full story here.  https://www.voanews.com/a/competition-grows-for-international-students-eyeing-yale/8000700.html https://www.voanews.com/a/competition-grows-for-international-students-eyeing-yale/8000700.html Tue, 11 Mar 2025 12:30:00 -0400 Student Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) Ruth Chane, a computer science major from Ethiopia, writes about her experiences settling into student life at Whitman College in the U.S. state of Washington. "The community at Whitman College made sure I felt welcomed even before I stepped foot on campus," she says. Read her essay here.  https://www.voanews.com/a/student-from-ethiopia-says-whitman-college-culture-made-it-easy-to-settle-in/8000699.html https://www.voanews.com/a/student-from-ethiopia-says-whitman-college-culture-made-it-easy-to-settle-in/8000699.html Mon, 10 Mar 2025 12:30:00 -0400 Student Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) In The Student Life, the student newspaper for the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of five liberal art colleges and two graduate schools in Claremont, California, student Rochelle Lu writes about readjusting to her Shanghai home after spending a semester in the United States. Read the full story here.  https://www.voanews.com/a/claremont-college-student-gets-a-shock-when-she-heads-home-to-shanghai/8000697.html https://www.voanews.com/a/claremont-college-student-gets-a-shock-when-she-heads-home-to-shanghai/8000697.html Fri, 07 Mar 2025 11:30:00 -0500 Student Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) Cedarville University in the U.S. state of Ohio says it’s got more than 140 international students representing 44 countries. Here, the school interviews Jonathan Sutton, director of international student services. He talks about his job and the opportunities for international students on campus. Read the full article here.  https://www.voanews.com/a/cedarville-university-aims-to-ease-transition-for-international-students-/8000695.html https://www.voanews.com/a/cedarville-university-aims-to-ease-transition-for-international-students-/8000695.html Thu, 06 Mar 2025 11:30:00 -0500 Student Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) Morehouse College, a private, historically Black liberal arts college in the U.S. state of Georgia, offers a guide for international students interested in attending the school. Among the tips to apply and thrive at Morehouse: Take advantage of the school’s orientation program Turn to the school’s Center for Academic Success for tutoring, support and more Immerse yourself in campus life via clubs and societies Read the full article here. https://www.voanews.com/a/morehouse-college-offers-prospective-students-tips-on-applying-and-thriving-/8000692.html https://www.voanews.com/a/morehouse-college-offers-prospective-students-tips-on-applying-and-thriving-/8000692.html Wed, 05 Mar 2025 22:10:00 -0500 Student Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) WASHINGTON — The administration of President Donald Trump said on Monday it will review Columbia University's federal contracts and grants over allegations of antisemitism, which it says the educational institution has shown inaction in tackling. Rights advocates note rising antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias since U.S. ally Israel's devastating military assault on Gaza began after Palestinian Hamas militants' deadly October 2023 attack. The Justice Department said a month ago it formed a task force to fight antisemitism. The U.S. Departments of Health and Education and the General Services Administration jointly made the review announcement on Monday. "The Federal Government's Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is considering Stop Work Orders for $51.4 million in contracts between Columbia University and the Federal Government," the joint statement said. The agencies said no contracting actions had been taken yet. "The task force will also conduct a comprehensive review of the more than $5 billion in federal grant commitments to Columbia University." The agencies did not respond to requests for comment on whether there were similar reviews over allegations of Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias. Columbia had no immediate comment. It previously said it made efforts to tackle antisemitism. College protests Trump has signed an executive order to combat antisemitism and pledged to deport non-citizen college students and others who took part in pro-Palestinian protests. Columbia was at the center of college protests in which demonstrators demanded an end to U.S. support for Israel due to the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's assault on Gaza. There were allegations of antisemitism and Islamophobia in protests and counter-protests. During last summer's demonstrations around the country, classes were canceled, some university administrators resigned and student protesters were suspended and arrested. While the intensity of protests has decreased in recent months, there were some demonstrations last week in New York after the expulsion of two students at Columbia University-affiliated Barnard College and after New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered the removal of a Palestinian studies job listing at Hunter College. A third student at Barnard College has since been expelled, this one related to the occupation of the Hamilton Hall building at Columbia last year. https://www.voanews.com/a/us-reviews-columbia-university-contracts-grants-over-antisemitism-allegations/7996301.html https://www.voanews.com/a/us-reviews-columbia-university-contracts-grants-over-antisemitism-allegations/7996301.html Tue, 04 Mar 2025 02:36:53 -0500 USAStudent Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (Reuters) From Europe to North America, nations are tightening their immigration policies. Now Canada, long seen as one of the world's most welcoming nations, has introduced sweeping changes affecting international students. The reforms highlight a growing global trend toward more restrictive immigration policies. Arzouma Kompaore reports from Calgary. https://www.voanews.com/a/canada-s-immigration-overhaul-signals-global-shift-in-student-migration/7987799.html https://www.voanews.com/a/canada-s-immigration-overhaul-signals-global-shift-in-student-migration/7987799.html Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:45:25 -0500 AmericasStudent Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (Arzouma Kompaore) The Trump administration is opening new investigations into allegations of antisemitism at five U.S. universities including Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley, the Education Department announced Monday. It's part of President Donald Trump's promise to take a tougher stance against campus antisemitism and deal out harsher penalties than the Biden administration, which settled a flurry of cases with universities in its final weeks. It comes the same day the Justice Department announced a new task force to root out antisemitism on college campuses. In an order signed last week, Trump called for aggressive action to fight anti-Jewish bias on campuses, including the deportation of foreign students who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests. Along with Columbia and Berkeley, the department is now investigating the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University and Portland State University. The cases were opened using the department's power to launch its own civil rights reviews, unlike the majority of investigations, which stem from complaints. Messages seeking comment were left with all five universities. A statement from the Education Department criticized colleges for tolerating antisemitism after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and a wave of pro-Palestinian protests that followed. It also criticized the Biden administration for negotiating "toothless" resolutions that failed to hold schools accountable. "Today, the Department is putting universities, colleges, and K-12 schools on notice: this administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses," said Craig Trainor, the agency's acting assistant secretary for civil rights. The department didn't provide details about the inquiries or how it decided which schools are being targeted. Presidents of Columbia and Northwestern were among those called to testify on Capitol Hill last year as Republicans sought accountability for allegations of antisemitism. The hearings contributed to the resignation of multiple university presidents, including Columbia's Minouche Shafik. An October report from House Republicans accused Columbia of failing to punish pro-Palestinian students who took over a campus building, and it called Northwestern's negotiations with student protesters a "stunning capitulation." House Republicans applauded the new investigations. Representative Tim Walberg, chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, said he was "glad that we finally have an administration who is taking action to protect Jewish students." Trump's order also calls for a full review of antisemitism complaints filed with the Education Department since Oct. 7, 2023, including pending and resolved cases from the Biden administration. It encourages the Justice Department to take action to enforce civil rights laws. Last week's order drew backlash from civil rights groups who said it violated First Amendment rights that protect political speech. The new task force announced Monday includes the Justice and Education departments along with Health and Human Services. "The Department takes seriously our responsibility to eradicate this hatred wherever it is found," said Leo Terrell, assistant attorney general for civil rights. "The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is the first step in giving life to President Trump's renewed commitment to ending anti-Semitism in our schools." https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-administration-opens-antisemitism-inquiries-at-5-colleges-including-columbia-and-berkeley-/7961961.html https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-administration-opens-antisemitism-inquiries-at-5-colleges-including-columbia-and-berkeley-/7961961.html Mon, 03 Feb 2025 20:11:03 -0500 USAStudent Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press) The Times of India breaks down the most popular subjects for international students to study in the U.S. STEM and business lead the pack. Read the full story here. (January 2025)    https://www.voanews.com/a/stem-business-top-subjects-for-international-students/7940126.html https://www.voanews.com/a/stem-business-top-subjects-for-international-students/7940126.html Fri, 24 Jan 2025 11:30:00 -0500 Student Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) U.S. News & World report addresses some of the misconceptions about U.S. colleges and universities, including the difficulty of getting a visa. Read the full story here. (January 2025)    https://www.voanews.com/a/safety-and-visa-difficulties-among-misconceptions-about-us-colleges/7940123.html https://www.voanews.com/a/safety-and-visa-difficulties-among-misconceptions-about-us-colleges/7940123.html Thu, 23 Jan 2025 11:30:00 -0500 Student Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) US News & World Report details the three top factors in foreign students' decision to study in the U.S. They include research opportunities and the reputation of U.S. degrees. Read the full story here. (December 2024)    https://www.voanews.com/a/work-opportunities-help-draw-international-students-to-us-schools/7940122.html https://www.voanews.com/a/work-opportunities-help-draw-international-students-to-us-schools/7940122.html Wed, 22 Jan 2025 11:30:00 -0500 Student Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) A British student who did a year abroad at Bowling Green State University in Ohio talks about adjusting to life in America in a TikTok video, Newsweek magazine reports. Among the biggest surprises? Portion sizes, jaywalking laws and dorm room beds. Read the full story here. (December 2024)    https://www.voanews.com/a/british-student-talks-about-her-culture-shock-in-ohio/7940121.html https://www.voanews.com/a/british-student-talks-about-her-culture-shock-in-ohio/7940121.html Tue, 21 Jan 2025 11:30:00 -0500 Student Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health reaches out to international students by detailing the international student experience at the school. Learn more about housing, life in Boston and more here.   https://www.voanews.com/a/harvard-s-chan-school-tells-international-students-what-to-expect/7909430.html https://www.voanews.com/a/harvard-s-chan-school-tells-international-students-what-to-expect/7909430.html Mon, 20 Jan 2025 11:30:00 -0500 Student Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) BEIJING — China issued its first national action plan to build a "strong education nation" by 2035, which it said would help coordinate its education development, improve efficiencies in innovation and build a "strong country." The plan, issued Sunday by the Communist Party's central committee and the State Council, aims to establish a "high quality education system" with accessibility and quality "among the best in the world." The announcement was made after data on Friday showed China's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024, with the number of deaths outpacing a slight increase in births, and experts cautioning that the downturn will worsen in the coming years. High childcare and education costs have been a key factor for many young Chinese opting out of having children, at a time when many face uncertainty over their job prospects amid sluggish economic growth. "By 2035, an education power will be built," the official Xinhua news agency said, adding that China would explore gradually expanding the scope of free education, increase "high-quality" undergraduate enrolment, expand postgraduate education, and raise the proportion of doctoral students. The plan aims to promote "healthy growth and all-round development of students," making sure primary and secondary school students have at least two hours of physical activity daily, to effectively control the myopia, or nearsightedness, and obesity rates. "Popularizing" mental health education and establishing a national student mental health monitoring and early warning system would also be implemented, it said. It also aims to narrow the gap between urban and rural areas to improve the operating conditions of small-scale rural schools and improve the care system for children with disabilities and those belonging to agricultural migrant populations. The plan also aims to steadily increase the supply of kindergarten places and the accessibility of preschool education. https://www.voanews.com/a/china-unveils-plan-to-build-strong-education-nation-by-2035/7942986.html https://www.voanews.com/a/china-unveils-plan-to-build-strong-education-nation-by-2035/7942986.html Mon, 20 Jan 2025 03:28:43 -0500 China NewsEast AsiaStudent Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (Reuters) The Open Notebook, a site focusing on educating journalists who cover science, has complied a list of U.S. graduate program financial aid information for international students. Read it here. https://www.voanews.com/a/a-look-at-financial-aid-options-for-international-graduate-students-in-us/7909429.html https://www.voanews.com/a/a-look-at-financial-aid-options-for-international-graduate-students-in-us/7909429.html Fri, 17 Jan 2025 11:30:00 -0500 Student Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) An article in Community College Daily looks at ways to support international students in and out of the classroom. Read  the full story here. https://www.voanews.com/a/tips-to-help-international-students-settle-into-us-life/7909427.html https://www.voanews.com/a/tips-to-help-international-students-settle-into-us-life/7909427.html Thu, 16 Jan 2025 11:30:00 -0500 Student Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) ICEF Monitor, which bills itself as "a dedicated market intelligence resource for the international education industry," takes a look at what matters to international students looking to study abroad. Read the piece here.   https://www.voanews.com/a/communications-value-key-in-attracting-international-students-research-finds/7909426.html https://www.voanews.com/a/communications-value-key-in-attracting-international-students-research-finds/7909426.html Wed, 15 Jan 2025 11:30:00 -0500 Student Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) A blog post from St. John's University in New York breaks down six reasons international students love studying in the U.S. They include: Gaining access to a global alumni network; Unlocking a wider net of scholarships and Unmatched cultural diversity. Read the full blog post here. https://www.voanews.com/a/diversity-alumni-and-funding-help-make-us-attractive-to-international-students-school-says/7909425.html https://www.voanews.com/a/diversity-alumni-and-funding-help-make-us-attractive-to-international-students-school-says/7909425.html Tue, 14 Jan 2025 11:30:00 -0500 Student Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) WASHINGTON — Despite failing to deliver his promise for broad student loan forgiveness, President Joe Biden has now overseen the cancellation of student loans for more than 5 million Americans — more than any other president in U.S. history. In a last-minute action on Monday, the Education Department canceled loans for 150,000 borrowers through programs that existed before Biden took office. His administration expanded those programs and used them to their fullest extent, pressing on with cancellation even after the Supreme Court rejected Biden's plan for a new forgiveness policy. “My Administration has taken historic action to reduce the burden of student debt, hold bad actors accountable, and fight on behalf of students across the country,” Biden said in a written statement. In total, the administration says it has waived $183.6 billion in student loans. The wave of cancellations could dry up when President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump hasn't detailed his student loan policies but previously called cancellation “vile” and illegal. Republicans have fought relentlessly against Biden's plans, saying cancellation is ultimately shouldered by taxpayers who never attended college or already repaid their loans. Biden loosened rules for debt forgiveness The latest round of relief mostly comes through a program known as borrower defense, which allows students to get their loans canceled if they're cheated or misled by their colleges. It was created in 1994 but rarely used until a wave of high-profile for-profit college scandals during the Obama administration. A smaller share of the relief came through a program for borrowers with disabilities and through Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which was created in 2007 and offers to erase all remaining debt for borrowers in a government or nonprofit job who make 10 years of monthly payments. Most of Monday's borrower defense cancellations were for students who attended several defunct colleges owned by Center for Excellence in Higher Education, including CollegeAmerica, Stevens-Henager College, and Independence University. They are based on past findings that the schools lied to prospective students about their employment prospects and the terms of private loans. Before Biden took office, those programs were criticized by advocates who said complex rules made it difficult for borrowers to get relief. The Biden administration loosened some of the rules using its regulatory power, a maneuver that expanded eligibility without going through Congress. As an example, just 7,000 borrowers had gotten their loans canceled through Public Service Loan Forgiveness before the Biden administration took office. Widespread confusion about eligibility, along with errors by loan servicers, resulted in a 99% rejection rate for applicants. Huge numbers of borrowers made years of payments only to find out they were in an ineligible repayment plan. Some were improperly put into forbearance — a pause on payments — by their loan servicers. Those periods didn't end up counting toward the 10 years of payments needed for cancellation. The Biden administration temporarily relaxed the eligibility rules during the pandemic and then made it more permanent in 2023. As a result, more than 1 million public servants have now had their balances zeroed out through the program. All those rule changes were meant to be a companion to Biden's marquee policy for student debt, which proposed up to $20,000 in relief for more than 40 million Americans. But after the Supreme Court blocked the move, the Biden administration shifted its focus to maximizing relief through existing mechanisms. Republicans have called for a different approach Announcements of new cancellation became routine, even as conservatives in Congress accused Biden of overstepping his power. Republican states fought off Biden's later attempts at mass forgiveness, but the smaller batches of relief continued without any major legal challenge. As Republicans take hold of both chambers of Congress and the White House, Biden's changes could be targeted for a rollback. But it's unclear how far the next administration will go to tighten the cancellation spigot. Trump proposed eliminating PSLF during his first term in office, but Congress rejected the idea. Project 2025, a blueprint created by the Heritage Foundation for a second Trump term, proposes ending PSLF, and narrowing borrower defense and making repayment plans less generous than existing ones. https://www.voanews.com/a/millions-have-had-student-loans-canceled-under-biden-despite-collapse-of-his-forgiveness-plan-/7935510.html https://www.voanews.com/a/millions-have-had-student-loans-canceled-under-biden-despite-collapse-of-his-forgiveness-plan-/7935510.html Mon, 13 Jan 2025 17:10:30 -0500 USAStudent Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press) Think of it as one-stop shopping for all things American, aimed at international students. According to an article in Washington Square News, New York University's student newspaper, roam, a student-funded startup, helps individuals navigate pricing plans for every necessity one could think of, including SIM cards, bank accounts, health insurance, scholarships, student visas, work visas and even meal prep. The all-in-one platform makes information about these necessities accessible and digestible." Read the full story here. https://www.voanews.com/a/startup-aims-to-help-international-students-with-us-life/7909422.html https://www.voanews.com/a/startup-aims-to-help-international-students-with-us-life/7909422.html Mon, 13 Jan 2025 11:30:00 -0500 Student Unionwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News)