With Trump’s re-election as president, many are contemplating whether his return to the White House will discourage international students from selecting the US as their study destination.

One stakeholder to question the impact of politics on student motivation is Kathryn Timlinis, senior associate director in the office of undergraduate admissions at Georgetown University.

A prestigious private university on the East Coast, Georgetown saw no real difference in the number of applications or enrolments throughout the past five administrations, she said.

The institution experienced significant declines in enrolments only in the aftermath of 9/11 and during the Covid-19 pandemic, Timlinis shared while speaking at an event hosted by Duolingo English Test in London, where stakeholders from both sides of the Atlantic explored the impact of the election result on international education.

“In a general way, with overall numbers, I’m not concerned that things will change,” said Timlinis, reflecting on the result.

Research before the election took place suggested that international students were largely “indifferent” about who took office, with most prospective students reporting less concern in the vote’s outcome than in 2020.

However, Timlinis does have other concerns for Trump’s presidency, highlighting her apprehension about the impact of his unpredictable policies on certain groups of students at Georgetown, as well as some funded programs.

“What I am concerned about is what I would call our most vulnerable international students – those students who are from conflict areas and especially those students who come from refugee backgrounds.”

Georgetown is one institution that has significantly invested in welcoming Ukrainian students on campus, while other initiatives have worked to ensure students from countries such as Kenya, Somali and South Sudan can continue their education in the US.

Timlinis worries for the future of programs such as the Welcome Corps on campus – a new initiative that’s being offered by various stakeholders, under the auspices of the United States Department of State, to bring and resettle and give citizenship pathway to students who are from a refugee background.

This mission is as critical as ever
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Since the news broke of Trump’s triumph over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, the international education sector has rallied, reinforcing the importance of its collective strength moving forward.

NAFSA CEO, Fanta Aw, commented: “This mission is as critical as ever. In today’s interdependent and complex world, success requires students to know how to engage across differences to find common understanding and shared interests.

“International education – from study abroad programs to the inclusion of international students and scholars on US campuses – prepares students with these essential skills, knowledge, and habits of mind. This is not about politics, this is about preparing the leaders of tomorrow.”