TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Ministry of Education on Wednesday said that Taiwanese students who depend on scholarships to study at Harvard University can apply for government-backed loans. 

Some Taiwanese students at Harvard reported that their scholarships had been frozen, per CNA. This comes as the Trump administration is attempting to block the university from enrolling new international students.

To support Taiwanese students abroad, the education ministry said that students whose family annual income is below NT$2 million (US$66,685), or with more than two people studying abroad, can apply for student loans from seven domestic banks. Master's students can apply for up to NT$1.2 million in overseas student loans, while PhD students can apply for NT$2.4 million.

The Trump administration has canceled more than US$2.6 billion in federal research grants for Harvard University, and it is attempting to cut an additional US$100 million in federal contracts. It is unclear how long professors and researchers can continue receiving their funding. 

According to one Taiwanese student at Harvard, the Trump administration's decisions have caused financial hardship for students who depend on scholarship money for daily expenses such as food, transportation, and housing. Taiwan’s Ministry of Education reported that 52 Taiwanese students, both current and recently enrolled, are affected by the US's decision to block international students.

Furthermore, as summer vacation approaches, some Taiwanese students currently at Harvard are worried about leaving the US. They fear they will not be able to return to finish their studies next semester. 

Harvard sued the government after the ban, and a judge ruled to suspend the enforcement. As Taiwanese students are feeling anxious, the Ministry of Education told them to stay calm and wait for the school's notification. 

International students contributed nearly US$44 billion to the US economy last year. The loss from the ban cannot be compensated by domestic students, reports said. 

The Ministry of Education said that so far, no Taiwanese students have been asked to leave Harvard. If the ban goes through, the ministry said it will ask Harvard to provide contingency measures for students, such as remote learning. Students might also be able to complete their studies through domestic universities that have signed an MOU with Harvard University for transferring credits.