Is it permissible for women to travel abroad without a mahram (a relative one may not marry) for the purpose of studying?

Question:
Also, since we are responsible for raising our sons and daughters, and they are a trust in our necks, one of the brothers came with a slip of paper and said: It is well known that there are two thousand Saudi girls in America for study without a mahram with them. I swear by Allah that a trustworthy person told me that he saw among them—well, there is no need to mention what he saw. I would not say it in this mosque. I ask Your Eminence to prevent girls from going abroad for study; because there is in our university what is better than abroad?

Answer:
The one who knows that it is forbidden. This was circulating somewhat from the side of merchants or from the side of some people or from other countries. But here it is forbidden from the side of the state. If she goes, it is poor, it is forbidden. Even most of the boys are forbidden except in a special case. This is the known thing that we know from the condition of the youth among us, and the evil is much. But what we know is that the flight is forbidden. And in any case, note that, but perhaps this is possible from other countries, from Quraish or from Egypt or from the Levant or otherwise. But it has a great danger. So this girl is a great evil, no power and no strength except by Allah, even if she has a mahram with her, even if going to those countries has a great danger.