Understanding the Challenges that International Students Face
What is it like to be an international student?
Culture Shock and Stress
What are some of the challenges that International Students face? Students from across the globe share their greatest challenges in U.S. institutions.
With more than 1 million international students from around the world studying in U.S. colleges and universities (5.5% of students studying in U.S. higher education), experiences of acculturation and identity development are varied and complex. In order to effectively support this demographic of students, it is vital that institutions and communities cultivate a culture of support. Ensuring the health and success of the international student population requires integrated and collaborative community efforts, and the first step to accomplishing this goal is understanding the challenges and barriers to success that exist for international students.
It is important to note that there are an innumerable number of factors that may impact the experience of an international student (i.e race, class, gender, religion, other individual characteristics, etc.), therefore, I encourage all users to develop an understanding of Kimberlé Crenshaw’s concept of intersectionality. However, there are many common challenges that international students face that educators and communities can prepare themselves to support students through.
Some of the most common challenges that international students face include:
Balancing college life
Culture shock and adjustment
Academic misunderstandings
Communication issues
Failure in socialization
Loneliness and isolation
Racism and discrimination
Emotional/health/mental health issues
Immigration compliance and policy changes
Financial issues
International students may encounter challenges that relate to one or all of these issues, and they may also experience challenges that are unique to their individual paradigm. So, how can we, as educators, staff members, peers, friends, and community members, help?
What can we do to ensure that a culture of support is established?
How can we foster belonging?
How can we direct international students to appropriate resources?
How can we be advocates for international student rights?
How can we create a campus climate that is inclusive and welcoming to students from every country, every culture, and every educational paradigm?
The content of this website may be used to start uncovering answers to these questions. Every institution and every student has different needs and challenges, so it will be up to the individual to activate practices that will support and facilitate positive and inclusive experiences for international students.
Data on International Students in the U.S.
OD21_Fast-Facts-2021.pdfReferences
Chirikov, I., Soria, K. M., Horgos, B., & Jones-White, D. (2020). Undergraduate and graduate students’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. SERU Consortium, University of California - Berkeley and University of Minnesota. https://cshe.berkeley.edu/seru-covid-survey-reports
Dawn, M. (2019). What is intersectionality? https://imagesofintersectionality.home.blog/2019/08/28/what-is-intersectionality/.
IIE Open Doors. https://opendoorsdata.org/.
International Student Insurance. (2018). Culture shock and stress - Student stories. https://vimeo.com/282328065.
Kaya, J. (2020). Inside the international student world: Challenges, opportunities, and imagined communities. Journal of International Students, 10(1), 124-144. doi:10.32674/jis.v10i1.1031