Academic Freedom Attacks Rise in 59 Countries
International students planning to study abroad should check current visa, travel, and funding conditions at their prospective schools.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Higher Education
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Scholars at Risk documented 382 attacks on academic freedom by state authorities in 59 countries and territories between July 2025 and June 2026, a network report based at New York University. The count was up from 395 attacks in 49 countries the prior year, a figure that fell slightly while the number of countries rose.
Why it matters
The report counts government interference with research topics or funding on ideological grounds, and wrongful prosecution, expulsion, and travel restrictions, as attacks, so students and scholars in these countries face direct risks to study and teaching. The Academic Freedom Index Update 2026 separately shows a steep decline in academic freedom in the United States, a shift that is reshaping where international students choose to study.
The report counts a violent or fatal assault, wrongful prosecution or imprisonment, sacking or expulsion, and restrictions on academic freedom or travel as attacks. US international student visas granted in summer 2025 fell 35% compared with summer 2024.
The players
Scholars at Risk
A human-rights network based at New York University that documents attacks on academic freedom worldwide.
Council of the European Union
The EU body that froze and later released funding for Hungarian universities, affecting access to Horizon Europe and Erasmus+.
New York University
A large private research university in New York City that hosts the Scholars at Risk network.
The details
Scholars at Risk defines an attack broadly, so a single government action such as banning a research topic, cutting research funding on ideological grounds, or barring a scholar from travel can be logged as one incident. The network's tally therefore reflects how often states restrict teaching and inquiry, not only violence against campus members. Restrictions on immigration, including travel bans and tighter scrutiny of social-media accounts, were part of the cause of the 35% drop in US visas for international students. Indonesia's crackdown on protests and its 2025 amendment letting officers hold civic-institution roles without leaving the military were cited as worsening conditions there.
Timeline
2022: The EU Council froze funds for 21 Hungarian universities and restricted access to Horizon Europe and Erasmus+.
July 2025 to June 2026: Scholars at Risk documented 382 attacks in 59 countries and territories.
Summer 2025: US international student visas fell 35% compared with summer 2024.
April 2026: A Hungarian government led by Prime Minister Péter Magyar was elected and rolled back university restrictions.
October: The EU Council announced it would restore full participation in Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ and release €4.2 billion (US$4.7 billion) for Hungarian universities.
Education Landscape
The 2022 EU Council freeze of funds for 21 Hungarian universities is the precedent against which the October restoration is measured. The 382 attacks documented this year sit within a rising count of countries affected, shifting the higher-education picture from individual cases toward wider national patterns.
International students weighing study abroad should ask each prospective school's international office how current visa and travel rules affect their enrollment. Students at universities in countries with recent funding freezes or restrictions should check with their school about how changes could affect exchange programs and research opportunities.
The takeaway
Academic freedom is measured not only by violence but also by funding, travel, and teaching restrictions, so a campus can change quickly under new policy. Students planning international study should confirm current visa rules and exchange eligibility directly with their prospective school's international office.
Further reading
For context on how university policy and funding shape student access, explore Higher Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nature.
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