AsianFin -- The University of Tokyo announced Monday that it is considering temporarily accepting international students from Harvard University if they are affected by a recent U.S. government decision barring them from continuing their studies.

The offer comes in response to a move by the Trump administration to revoke Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), effectively blocking the university from enrolling new international students and forcing current foreign enrollees to transfer or risk losing their legal status.

In a statement, Japan’s top university said it is exploring ways to support impacted students, drawing on its prior experience assisting scholars affected by global crises. In 2022, the University of Tokyo launched an emergency initiative to host researchers and students whose academic paths were disrupted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. That program offered free research lab access, housing, Japanese language courses, and counseling services.

According to the university’s official website, more than 30 students and researchers had taken part in the initiative as of March 2024.

The proposed support for Harvard students underscores growing global concern over U.S. immigration restrictions and the future of academic mobility, particularly for international scholars at top-tier American institutions.