Harvard students get offers from Japanese universities to continue their education with them

The Japanese government is urging domestic universities to consider temporarily accepting students enrolled at U.S. schools after Washington’s move to bar foreign students from Harvard University.

The decision to encourage Japanese and other foreign students studying in the United States came after the University of Tokyo announced that it is exploring taking international students from Harvard if they are harmed by US policies.

“We are committed to helping young, talented students continue their education without stopping,” the prestigious university, commonly known as Todai, told The Asahi Shimbun on May 26.

About 20 students who had to leave their families because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine were taken in by the University of Tokyo in 2022, and they were given help by being able to attend classes as auditors.

The same system will be applied to international students at Harvard University, according to the University of Tokyo.

They will be allowed to attend select classes and will be given certificates of completion so that they can obtain credit for coursework done at the university when they return to Harvard or enroll in another higher education school in the future.

Later, Kyoto University also said that it is considering accepting international students and young researchers from Harvard University.

The institution in western Japan stated that it has been closely monitoring the situation in the United States and is “making detailed considerations to accept international students who are enrolled at U.S. universities.”

The education ministry said that the Japan Student Services Organization plans to release each university’s stance on providing support.

“We’d like to work with related institutions and make utmost efforts to guarantee education for young people with ambition and talent,” Education Minister Toshiko Abe said at a press conference.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration moved to end Harvard’s ability to accept foreign students and force current students to transfer or lose their legal status by deciding to revoke certification for the university’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program.

But international students are expected to remain enrolled at the university under a temporary injunction by a U.S. federal district court while the legality of the administration’s decision is reviewed.

Currently, 110 Japanese students and 150 researchers are enrolled at Harvard, according to the education ministry.

The ministry will provide a consultation service on the Japan Student Services Organization’s website for students studying in the United States.