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Cypriot students hoping to study at Harvard University next year will now need to look elsewhere. In a controversial decision announced by the Trump administration, Harvard has been stripped of its ability to host international students, a move that could force those already enrolled to transfer or leave the United States entirely.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the decision on Thursday, saying that Harvard’s license under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) has been suspended, effective immediately. This program is what allows foreign students to obtain visas to study in the United States.
According to the announcement, Harvard will not be allowed to admit students on F (student) or J (training program) visas for the 2025–2026 academic year. Students from Cyprus, who typically pursue postgraduate studies at the Ivy League university, are among those affected.
The U.S. government says the suspension comes after Harvard failed to comply with federal demands, including the submission of international student records and documentation related to campus protests. Officials accused the university of fostering an environment that is unsafe for Jewish students and promoting discriminatory diversity policies, claims Harvard strongly denies.
For prospective Cypriot students aiming to apply for the next academic year, this means their applications will no longer be accepted. Those already enrolled at Harvard will be allowed to graduate only if they are finishing their programs this semester. Others must transfer to different universities in the U.S. or face losing their legal residency status.
Unless the university meets the government's conditions within 72 hours, which include handing over sensitive student data and protest-related materials, the ban will remain in place.
This is the first time such a move has been made against an elite academic institution for political reasons, according to higher education experts in the U.S. While similar suspensions have occurred in the past, they have typically involved administrative issues or accreditation problems, not disputes over campus speech or diversity policies.
Harvard has said the decision is unlawful and is expected to challenge it in court. In the meantime, the situation has left thousands of international students around the world, including from Cyprus, uncertain about their educational future in the U.S.
