With some US universities kicking off their academic year this month and Chinese students subject to increased scrutiny from Washington amid heated geopolitical rivalry, many institutions were concerned they would receive fewer applications from China, a prized source of tuition fee revenue amid cuts to state and federal education budgets.But a report issued by the Institute of International Education – a Washington-based non-profit organisation – last month said 65 per cent of American higher-education institutions had reported increases or “stability” in the number of applications from China compared with the previous academic year.Based on a survey of 585 universities and colleges in May and June, the report found that 59 per cent said they had seen declines in total international applicants, while 14 per cent reported increases.The survey found the “most pronounced decreases” were for India – the United States’ largest source of international students, ahead of China – with only 39 per cent of institutions indicating stable or increased application numbers from that country.US President Donald Trump has targeted Chinese students over purported ties to the ruling Communist Party and to stop any transfer of sensitive US data.