This Week in Study Abroad (TWISA) is a weekly read on what current and prospective international students should be paying attention to, powered by Radius.
Vol. 10 · June 16th -June 23th, 2026
TL;DR
TOP STORIES FROM ACROSS GLOBE
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China’s universities cut 12,000 ‘obsolete’ degrees amid the race to embrace the AI era.
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A 45% Tuition cut at Buckingham University, UK has International students dazed.
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US State Department to Require Public Social-Media Profiles for F, M and J Visa Applicants.
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Nigeria lifts tuition remittance cap even as visa concerns persist
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India’s university rise broadens beyond IITs, but internationalisation lags
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US to fast-track visa interviews for applicants who pay $750
CHINA
China’s universities are undertaking a massive reshuffling of their academic offerings as part of a drive to better align higher education with the nation’s development goals, culling thousands of degrees in favour of new, tech-focused programmes.
Between 2021 and 2025, China’s higher education institutions revoked or suspended 12,200 undergraduate degree programmes while introducing 10,200 new ones.
The cuts have been heavily concentrated in arts, humanities, foreign languages and management- invariably where the job market is being rapidly transformed by artificial intelligence,
Source; SouthernChina Morning Post
UK
The University of Buckingham, UK’s oldest private university is cutting its tuition fees on selected courses, saying the “time is right” to offer discounts, given the ongoing conversations about “value for money” in higher education.
Several accelerated business and management programmes along with one in English and creative writing will be eligible for an offer that could allow students to save 45 per cent compared with a traditional three-year degree at a rival university.
Annual fees will be £7,830 and cost a total of £15,660 across the two years. This compares with £28,605 spent on a degree if a student is paying the full £9,535 yearly tuition fee.
Source; Times higher education
USA
In an unannounced policy change posted to the State Department’s website on 20 June 2026, consular officers were instructed to tell every applicant in the student (F and M) and exchange-visitor (J) categories to switch all personal social-media accounts from “private” to “public” for the duration of the visa process. The notice says the step is needed to give officers “real-time insight into applicants’ intent and affiliations.
The directive goes well beyond the 2019 requirement to list identifiers used on major platforms. Now, visa applicants must proactively change their privacy settings so that officers may scroll through historical posts during or after the consular interview. Refusal to comply will be treated as a failure to establish eligibility under INA §214(b) – the same standard used for suspected immigrant intent – even for short-term exchange visitors. Universities and program sponsors are scrambling to brief tens of thousands of incoming students before fall orientation.
Source; VISAHQ News
NIGERIA
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has increased the maximum tuition fee remittance for students studying overseas from $15,000 to $25,000 per semester as part of broader reforms aimed at improving access to foreign exchange.
The revised limit, contained in the CBN’s Foreign Exchange Manual, Fourth Edition, came into effect on June 1 and applies to tuition payments made through authorised dealer banks for eligible overseas higher education institutions.
The policy also clarifies that tuition and maintenance allowances will be treated separately. Where tuition and maintenance fees are billed together, remittances will be made directly to the educational institution.
Source; The PIE News
INDIA
More than half of India’s ranked universities improved their position in the QS World University Rankings 2027, with 18 institutions achieving their highest-ever positions as gains increasingly spread beyond the country’s elite Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
The rankings feature 52 Indian universities, up from just 14 a decade ago, making India the world’s fifth most represented higher education system behind the US, UK, mainland China and Germany. Over the past decade, India’s presence in the rankings has grown by 271%, the fastest proportional increase of any G20 nation.
Source; The PIE News
USA
The US State Department has introduced a “premium” expedited service for travellers seeking B1/B2 visas, allowing applicants to pay $750 for interview appointments scheduled within 10 business days.
A B1/B2 (business and tourism) visa currently costs $185, with the expedited processing fee to be paid separately. However, paying the fee for the “optional premium add-on service” does not guarantee that a visa will be issued.
Source; The CABLE
What to do this week
Based on this week's developments, here are your cues for the week:
1. China is repositioning itself for the future in AI. A degree with AI Advantage keeps you 10 steps ahead of the trend. Check out Chinese universities today and start applying.
2. Buckingham University’s offer is a dream catch. Apply today and take advantage of lower tuition for quality education.
3. The rules just changed quietly. Audit your social media and leave a clean slate if you are applying to the USA. If you have one, create one immediately as it could affect your overall visa grant decision.
4. Nigerian and trying to process a tuition payment abroad? The CBN is making it easier for you and your payment provider. Start your journey today.
5. India is clearly still an affordable quality option for your study abroad aspirations. Start applying today,
6. If you're looking to visit the USA soon, the fast-track visa option is worth checking out. However, it doesn’t guarantee your visa success.
IN SUMMARY;
The shift in China’s educational sector tells a global story. Align your study abroad goals to fit the country you’re relocating to. Apply for courses that are relevant and in-demand globally.
Despite global perceptions of closing doors by the big 4, International studies are still viable. Tuition cuts by prominent universities in the UK is all the data you need to make that move today.
Your social media is beginning to matter more than you think. Today it's the USA, it could be another country tomorrow. Let your public profile reflect your dreams, your goals and let it speak honestly of your journey. Remember, authenticity trumps.
Affordable education is still possible. It is not necessarily about the name, but the quality and global competitiveness. Remember, policies will come and go, but your study abroad path to accessing quality international education should remain unphased. Adjust the plan, not the dream.
We'll be back next Tuesday. Until then, your only job is to act on what you've just read.
Regards,
The Radius Team.
