Experiences of International Students in the UK

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Introduction:
International students studying in the UK in 2011-2012 totalled 435,230 which is an increase of two per cent from the preceding year (UKCISA statistics, 2012). As a student of the University of Essex which has the reputation for being one of the UK’s most internationally diverse universities with students from over 130 countries (University of Essex, 2013) I, myself have had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. Living with international students has led me to detect differences, as well as similarities in social, academic and cultural views. This has hugely influenced my research topic.
I am concerned with the experiences of international students and how they adapt to British university life. By the end of my research I plan to be able to answer the subsequent question:
“To what extent do differences in culture affect how international students adapt to British university life?”
It is important to recognise how international students adapt to English life so that universities can help make the transition for these students as straightforward as possible. Attending university itself is a frightening concept, so moving away from your own culture and into a completely different country would be terrifying. Therefore I believe that international students should have as much help as possible to facilitate with these changes.

Literature review:
Gu, Schwisfurth and Days book “Learning and Growing in a Foreign Context” focuses on international students experiences and how they adapt to a different cultural and educational environment. Throughout they converse about a feeling of belonging or alienation which could prevent international students from involving themselves in the British culture (Gu e...

... middle of paper ...

...2) ‘Consenting to what? Issues of access, gate-keeping and “informed” consent’, in Mauthner, M. (ed.). Ethics in Qualitative Research, London: Sage. 53-69.
Miller, D, 2002. Material Cultures: Why some things matter. 1st ed. London: Psychology Press .
Montgomery, C. (2010) Understanding the International Student Experience, London: Palgrave Macmillan. 1-100.

University of Essex. 2013. International. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.essex.ac.uk/international/. [Accessed 12 November 13].
UKCISA. 2013. International Student Statistics. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Info-for-universities-colleges--schools/Policy-research--statistics/Research--statistics/International-students-in-UK-HE/. [Accessed 12 November 13].
Wheeler, A. 2011. Experiences of Home Students Living and Learning on an Internationally Diverse Campus. Year 2. Essex: University of Essex.

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