Study in America? For Nigerians, it just got much harder

Nigerian students dreaming of American universities are facing their most difficult environment in decades. The Common App reported a 10 per cent decline in international applicants for the 2026-27 academic year — describing it as the steepest fall recorded in its data — with the decline particularly pronounced among applicants from Asia and Africa.

The figures reflect a sweeping overhaul of US student visa policy under President Donald Trump, according to Vanguard. On July 17, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security finalised the biggest change to F-1 student status in 40 years — scrapping the open-ended “duration of status” system and replacing it with a fixed admission period of up to four years.

The changes include a proposed four-year cap on F-1 and J-1 student stays, alongside delays and limited availability of visa appointments — creating a more uncertain environment for Nigerian students seeking admission to US universities.

Students enrolled in postgraduate or extended undergraduate programmes longer than four years will now need to plan for a formal extension or a return trip to restart their admission clock. The new rules compound existing restrictions that have seen Nigeria’s tourist visa refusal rate climb to 57 per cent and new student visa issuance suspended since January 1, 2026.

The Common App said fewer students outside the US are creating accounts on its platform, suggesting the pipeline of international students could continue to shrink.