Uncertainty remains high for Icelandic students at Harvard University after the US administration’s decision two days ago to revoke the university’s authorisation to enrol international students.
On May 22, 2025, the Trump administration revoked Harvard University’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). This move, for all intents and purposes, bars the institution from enrolling new international students.
Among other reasons, allegations of antisemitism and unwarranted foreign influence were provided as reasons for the revocation. As reported by mbl.is, the US Department of Homeland Security confirmed that these changes could affect a broad group of foreign students.
Regardless of their reasoning, the decision has since left many students, both at Harvard and beyond, facing the prospect of transferring to other institutions. Either that, or potentially losing their US residency status.
Icelandic response
Sindri Freyr Ásgeirsson, vice president of the Association of Icelandic Students Abroad (SÍNE), told mbl.is in a recent interview, “There is a lot of uncertainty, and people don’t quite understand what lies ahead.”
SÍNE is now collaborating with the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explore potential solutions. According to Sindri, the organisation has already been in contact with several Icelanders currently studying at Harvard, though he says they are still working to understand the full extent of the impact.
“We would like to encourage students who are at Harvard to contact us — they can email sine@sine.is or reach out through our social media channels,” he urged.
