Kevin Rudd has slammed Donald Trump's 'distressing' decision to block foreign students from enrolling at Harvard University amid escalating tensions with the elite institution. 

The ban, announced by the US President on Thursday, is forcing existing students to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status. 

It will also impact the roughly 120 Australian students who study at Harvard, according to the university's website.

Rudd, who is Australia's ambassador to the US, said he was 'monitoring closely developments at Harvard University' in a post on X on Friday morning.

'I know this will be distressing for Harvard's many Australian students,' Rudd said.

'The Embassy is working with the United States Government to obtain the details of this decision so that Australian students can receive appropriate advice.

'We also intend to engage the administration more broadly on the impact of this decision for Australian students and their families both at Harvard and at other campuses across the United States.'

Rudd encouraged any Australians requiring assistance to contact the consular emergency centre.  

The move comes amid escalating tensions between the Ivy League university and the White House after the university refused to provide information about some foreign student visa holders.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has accused Harvard of 'fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party'.