Abstract:

International students generally experience challenges when transitioning from home country to another country for further studies. Their challenges ranges from academic to social and are unique to the different transitioning routes into their academic programme. These challenges are more intense for international postgraduate students who arrive on the programme with families and other dependants. This study reveals the perspectives of 71 international postgraduate students on their academic and social transitions in a UK higher education. The study adopted a mixed method and explored the experiences, challenges and support mechanism on international students’ transition. Data was collected using questionnaire and interview techniques and analysed using SPSS and thematic content analysis. An integrated personalised support mechanism was proffered which includes student liaison contacts with identical backgrounds and transition route as the prospective international student, accessible before, on and after arrival on a study programme.

This paper aims to understand the recent surge in choosing UK as a destination as well as the challenges facing international student transitions in the UK and evaluates the effectiveness of the University induction program by analysing the international postgraduate students’ account of the University induction program received and how it has prepared or impacted on their transitioning challenges in the UK. It also aims to review the strategies for addressing the transition challenges faced by international post graduate students with a view to identifying a more sustainable approach.

Keywords:

Transitions, International students, personalisation, UK Higher education.