Maple News reports that international students at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government (HKS) may soon have a Canadian lifeline, as mounting visa challenges in the U.S. prompt a contingency arrangement with the University of Toronto. The agreement would allow eligible HKS students to complete their studies at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy in Toronto if U.S. immigration restrictions prevent their return.
The collaboration was jointly announced by Harvard and the University of Toronto. Under this option, students would enroll as full-time visiting students at U of T, combining in-person seminars in Toronto with remote instruction by Harvard and U of T faculty. To qualify, students must have completed at least one academic year in Cambridge and secure a Canadian study permit.
Two adaptable tracks are on offer: the HKS-at-Munk School option for students who can relocate to Toronto, and the HKS Global route for those who continue remotely with occasional in-person international sessions. Notably, this emergency pathway ensures academic continuity for HKS’s heavily international cohort — over 50% of whose students hail from more than 90 countries.
While Canada is providing educational refuge, its own immigration policies are tightening. In January 2024, the federal government implemented a two-year cap on new study permit approvals. For 2024, the cap sits at approximately 360,000 permits — a 35% reduction from the previous year. For 2025, the number of applications processed is projected at around 437,000, factoring in rejections and renewals.
The new rules require all international students, including those in master’s and doctoral programs, to provide a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter confirming space within the designated quota. These measures aim to ease strain on housing and healthcare, but also mean limited availability for new international students, including incoming transfers from Ivy League schools.
For affected Harvard students, time is of the essence. Participation in the HKS-at-Munk program requires a valid Canadian study permit, proof of acceptance, documentation of adequate financial support, and now, an attestation letter from the province of Ontario. Housing and placement for existing U of T students will remain unaffected, the schools affirmed.
This Canada-based option comes amid growing concern that the U.S. may block Harvard from enrolling international students, citing alleged noncompliance with federal visa regulations. Although two U.S. court rulings have temporarily halted implementation of the ban, the ongoing legal uncertainty creates risk for students with expiring or pending visa renewals.
Critically, studying in Canada under this arrangement is considered temporary and will not impact students’ future U.S. visa applications. The program is designed solely to bridge students through their Harvard education until conditions stabilize.
As nations recalibrate immigration policies, universities like Harvard and U of T are forming unprecedented cross-border alliances to ensure educational continuity. For now, Canada appears to be stepping in as a critical academic fallback for some of the world’s top students.
Maple News will continue to monitor the impact of these changes on international students and higher education institutions.