Politicians in the US have unveiled a bill prohibiting Chinese students from receiving visas for STEM subjects at graduate and post-graduate level.

A major repositioning of resources and replanning of budget priorities has been happening as North American institutions adjust to Covid-19 realities.

Having committed $1m to help international students in the US, the IIE is in the process of distributing another $1m to aid a further 300 students.

Without financial relief and congressional action the US higher education sector is at risk of losing more than $4.5bn due to Covid-19, NAFSA has warned.

Most (88%) US HEIs anticipate that international student enrolment will decline in the 2020/21 academic year; 30% anticipate a "substantial" decline, reports IIE.

To bring some international students back to onto their campuses, institutions in key destinations are closely following government announcements in order to make decisions and are weighing up available options for quarantining students.

Sector stakeholders have condemned the latest attempt to undermine the Optional Practical Training program, highlighting evidence that shows OPT creates – rather than takes away – employment for US citizens.

Student accommodation provider StudentRoomStay has closed its first seed round of funding at a post valuation of more than $10 million.