International students

How can universities best attract and offer value to international students? These resources offer advice on marketing strategies that boost international enrolments, to providing a warm welcome and effective student support for international cohorts in order to ensure successful outcomes for graduates and post-graduates from all over the world.

Enhancing the thesis experience: insights from master’s students

Early preparation is essential for students’ successful thesis journey – so postgraduate course coordinators and programme leaders should put supports in place from the beginning

Shino Takayama, Ransi Jayawardena

The University of Queensland

Teaching region-specific political science courses: Hong Kong as a case study

Strategies implemented in two Hong Kong-specific courses aim to ensure students unfamiliar with the region remain as engaged in the learning process as local students

Adrian Man-Ho Lam

The University of Hong Kong

We should be using social media more to understand students

How to use netnography to improve communication with prospective and current students

Alex Fenton

University of Chester

Create an online learning environment international students feel comfortable in

For international students, navigating online learning is just another challenge among the many they’re already facing. Rajeev Kamineni offers advice based on his own learning journey

Rajeev Kamineni

Adelaide University

Unlock the benefits of multilingualism in higher education

To create inclusive campuses, we need to embrace multilingualism. Here’s how the Multilingual University project helped celebrate linguistic diversity and fostered a sense of belonging

Katherine Mansfield, Julio Gimenez

University of Westminster

Three male students laughing and chatting

We need to get to know our international students better

To create inclusive classrooms for international students, we must address bias and challenge assumptions. Here’s how

Meg Maclean

The University of Edinburgh

Young male with backpack looking up at a plane overhead

Measuring the environmental impact of student relocation

A simple but robust tool and methodology can help universities calculate the carbon emissions from student travel when they relocate for study

Roederer Rose Lyne, Fraser Lovie

University of Aberdeen

A group of four students working on a project

Use student-centred learning strategies to motivate international business students

Support your international students by incorporating strategies that promote student-centred learning into your teaching

Giselle Bate

University of Chester

Teaching international students about academic integrity

Cultural misunderstandings can lead to international students being referred for academic misconduct. An answer for university educators can be to tailor course content to bridge gaps in your students‘ understanding

Julija Jones

University of Southampton

Taking an administrative office performance from process-focused to people-driven

Improving processes can start with an objective to help team members be happy in their jobs while supporting their office’s activities. These steps focus on staff, faculty and students rather than systems

Joanna Daaboul

Université de Technologie de Compiègne

Students at an employability event at university

Empowering international students for global career success

Supporting our students to prosper and thrive is not only beneficial to them but also to the broader community

Alex Fenton, Trevor Omoruyi

University of Chester

A Black student walking around campus with books in hand

Improving the digital experience for Black international students

Strategies UK institutions should take to enable Black international students’ smooth transition into university

Patrice Seuwou

University of Northampton

Young black male university student with a backpack

A sustainable strategy for educating the next generation of African youth

Young women and men from African countries will soon comprise the most significant group of globally mobile students. What if universities met them with a sustainable, positive vision for their communities and the host institutions? Here are practical strategies and resources

Melissa Aberle-Grasse

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities

Campus talks: cross-cultural communication in the international classroom

Whether it’s teaching creative writing and media in a multilingual course or providing future doctors with clinical communication skills, two experts share tips for connecting with students and bridging language and culture divides

Lucy Palmer, Katalin Fogarasi

University of Central Asia, Semmelweis University

Students chatting outside a campus building

It’s all in the presentation: how to engage international students during lectures

The visual dimension of lectures and seminars can create additional challenges for international students, but simple strategies can help in creating useful presentations that support learning

Mark Whalley

University of Chester

Mind your language: inclusive teaching for international students

Learning about your international students and being mindful about how you use language in classes can have a profound impact on students’ experience and attainment

Mark Whalley

University of Chester

International students holding up flags of their home countries

Eleven ways to support international students who use English as a second language

We must all work to foster a compassionate and encouraging experience for our international student community

Peter O'Rourke

The University of Exeter

Diversity in the classroom as an advantage for learning

Cultural diversity can have practical benefits in the university classroom if we reflect on it from a culture-sensitive perspective, writes Attila Dobos. It can enhance the quality of discussions and lead to a deeper understanding between teacher and students

Attila Dobos

Semmelweis University

A group of students arriving on campus with suitcases

How can faculty facilitate short-term international student mobility programmes?

Let us pave the way for student mobility options to help our students make the most of their university experience and build the foundations for a successful future, writes Sunila John

Sunila John

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

The left hand side of a woman's face with her hand held up against her ear

How to create effective listening environments for deaf, neurodivergent and international students

It’s important to consider the influence of your learning environment on listening effort, cognitive load and cognitive fatigue. Here are some tips

Lindsey Jones

The University of Manchester

A group of students working on a project together

Use design thinking and storytelling to help international students find their voices

Exchanging stories allows students to express themselves and relate to others. Here are activities, based on co-creation and empathy, that encourage this

Bo Kelestyn, Nikita Asnani, Minali Sanghani, Weiwei Su, Janet Zheng

The University of Warwick

A teacher writes English phrases on a whiteboard

Writing courses can be more enriching for international students than you think

For many international students, English writing courses are a requirement. While such courses can help them polish their definite articles, they can do so much more. Umasankar Patra suggests harnessing the diversity in your classroom

Umasankar Patra

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Six ways to boost international student recruitment

International students bring diversity, talent and economic value to our universities and society. Here are some ways to encourage them to apply to your institution

Steven McGuire

University of Sussex

A range of international flags, shot from below

Four key hurdles international students face – and what to do about them

How can we make international students’ academic journey a positive one? Katherine Mansfield suggests ways to alleviate their social, academic and language challenges

Katherine Mansfield

University of Westminster

Two women walk away from the camera, their arms around each other's shoulders

Ease the transition for international students with a holistic peer-mentoring programme

Enlist peer mentors to help make international students’ transition on to your campus a smooth one. Naia Robinson shows how

Naia Robinson

Australian National University

Let’s make the international student experience as valuable as the degree

Given the unique challenges international students face, how can universities create an inclusive and supportive community? Educators share suggestions for helping international students thrive

Multiple authors

Adelaide University

A buffet table, groaning with food, stretches nearly as far as the eye can see

A smorgasbord of strategies to help international students feel included

Educators are like seasoned chefs with the responsibility to create harmonious classroom environments that celebrate the flavourful cultural diversity of international students, says John Sinclair

John Sinclair

Colorado State University Global

A young woman boards a plane in glorious sunshine

What will it take to ensure that international students are treated fairly?

Treatment of international students needs to shift to a social justice approach, and the interim report from Australia’s Universities Accord Panel doesn’t go far enough. Here’s how we can do more

Carly Steele, Sender Dovchin, Ana Tankosić

Curtin University

Helping international students in their transition to US institutions

International students enrich and add value to American campuses. Here, Ashlee Toomey-Flinn offers practical tips for helping them transition successfully into their US university experience

Ashlee Toomey-Flinn

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities

Navigating the choppy waters of intercultural differences in an international classroom

Farish A. Noor draws on three decades of teaching across different continents to offer advice on the challenges inherent in teaching students from diverse backgrounds

Farish A. Noor  

University of Malaya

How to help international students prepare for university life ahead of and after their arrival

Ayten Ordu provides five top tips that will help ensure international students have a smooth transition to their new surroundings

Ayten Ordu

Near East University

How to support international students’ smooth transition to a new country

Orientation is an ongoing process for international students, so welcome programmes need to extend further than a single day. Here, Mengping Cheng explains how to support new arrivals throughout their adjustment

Mengping Cheng

University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

How to create and run pre-sessional courses to enhance future success

A team from the University of Nottingham Ningbo China outline the starting points for providing short-term English proficiency courses for non-native speakers

Multiple authors

The University of Nottingham Ningbo China

What about lifelong learning for international students?

International students might not be comfortable with the student-centred mindset that underpins continuous, self-directed learning. We must prepare them for lifelong learning so they are not left behind, argues Graham Wise

Graham Wise

University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

Five useful measures for welcoming students to international classrooms

Preeti Aghalayam explains why it’s worth examining the effectiveness of your teaching, acknowledging the changes needed for an inclusive classroom and how to do it

Preeti Aghalayam

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Help students make the most of studying overseas at branch campuses and beyond

Chris Pirie offers advice on how to run a smooth international student exchange programme

Chris Pirie

Heriot-Watt University

International students showing off their national flags

How to support more international student applications

UK universities can increase their appeal for international students with better transparency and support through the application and enrolment process, Christina Matthews explains

Christina Matthews

Aston University

The top three ways to support international graduate employability

Building effective partnerships with employers and using feedback to shape curricula and careers services will boost outcomes for students, universities and industry alike

Eric Huang

University of East London

A group of international students chatting together on campus

Digital marketing as a route to reaching international students

Advice for university marcomms teams on shaping digital marketing efforts to reach and appeal to international students

Claire Roper-Browning

Heriot-Watt University Dubai

Man speaking through a megaphone while his shadow is urging silence

Unearthing the hidden curriculum in international classrooms

How educators can help international students navigate the unspoken assumptions, expectations and norms of US higher education

Andrea Feldman

The University of Colorado Boulder

International students pipeline needs strengthening

How to build a stronger pipeline for international student recruitment

Iain Sloan explores four key strategies universities can introduce to help them continue to attract overseas students in challenging times

Iain Sloan

Ellucian

Student ROI is becoming a major factor in study abroad decisions

Is your university worth the investment for international students?

International student concerns have changed in recent years, and traditional study-abroad destinations need to keep up

Cagri Bagcioglu

Cintana Education

A lecturer sitting on a desk speaking to students in an informal manner

The hows and whys of improved interactions with international students

Strategies for overcoming potential cultural differences and supporting better academic-international student relationships

Lenka Janik Blaskova

The University of Exeter

How to support multilingual international students in the classroom

Multilingual students face unique challenges that affect their participation and communication in the classroom, but educators can take steps to make them feel welcome

Andrea Feldman

The University of Colorado Boulder

The tastes of home can help international university students settle

Five tips for helping international students settle in their new surroundings

Ganna Pola and Önay Aktunç offer advice based on their experience as advisers to international students in North Cyprus

Ganna Pola , Önay Aktunç

Near East University

International students require help when travelling to new countries

How to champion the international student experience from admission to graduation

An international student’s experience at your institution can be very positive with mindful handling every step of the way, says Preeti Aghalayam

Preeti Aghalayam

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Universities are policing and surveilling international PGRs

Universities must stop policing and surveilling international PGRs

From controlling travel to failing to provide adequate support, universities’ treatment of international postgrads is harming the research community and the HE sector

Tina Sikka, Heather Proctor

Newcastle University

Linguistic racism in universities can have an adverse effect on mental health

Linguistic racism can take a high toll on international students

Even seemingly innocuous comments on the way that students use dominant local languages can have severe effects on mental health, says Sender Dovchin

Sender Dovchin

Curtin University

The importance of promoting multilingual approaches in international universities

Introducing ‘translanguaging’ – and other ways to promote multilingualism

If universities are serious about internationalisation, they must confront the hegemony of English-medium instruction – here’s how, says Dylan Williams

Dylan Williams

Seoul National University

Group of international students’ showing their national flags

In support of international students’ journey through higher education

International students embark on a challenging personal and educational journey when they enrol overseas. Fiona S. Baker outlines support inside and outside the classroom that can help them succeed

Fiona S. Baker

Durham University

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