SINGAPORE — Singaporean undergraduates at Harvard University now have the option to transfer to local autonomous universities if they choose to return home due to recent disruptions in their US studies, according to government officials.

The Straits Times has learned that Ambassador Lui Tuck Yew shared this arrangement during a virtual town hall with affected students on May 30. The Ministry of Education confirmed that Singapore's six autonomous universities are prepared to accommodate returning students who wish to continue their education locally.

"Our autonomous universities stand ready to support Singaporean students in Harvard if they wish to continue their studies in Singapore," an MOE spokesperson stated. This information was specifically communicated to help students consider returning as a viable alternative.

The six institutions available for potential transfers include:

• National University of Singapore (NUS)

• Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

• Singapore Management University (SMU)

• Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)

• Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)

• Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)

The development comes amid uncertainty for the 151 Singaporean students currently enrolled at Harvard, including 12 Public Service Commission scholarship recipients. Their academic status was thrown into question following recent policy announcements from Washington.

Campus Crisis and Policy Reversals

The situation began when the US administration unexpectedly revoked Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification on May 22, putting nearly 6,800 international students at risk of deportation unless they transferred institutions. While a federal judge temporarily blocked this action and the administration later granted Harvard a 30-day reprieve, subsequent measures have maintained pressure on international enrollments.