Challenges and barriers for first-year home and international students in Higher Education in the UK and Ireland: A scoping review

Authors:

Yasmin Clough, Sarah Gibbons, Hannah Gibson, Kiu Sum, Yue Yue

(January, 2024)

Main Topics:

This article mainly focuses on the challenges international students face when transitioning into college or university. It compares the difference between home students and international students, in which the barriers they face while adapting to a different and new environment. Such as language barriers, culture differences and financial issues.

Methodology:

The authors worked across first year home and international students in the UK and Ireland. The authors split their work where one group focused on the literature of home students, while the other group focused on the literature of international students. Then compared the difference in experiences these students faced. They explored the challenges faced in academic, social and personal scenarios and also to see if there are common themes relating to the students. The authors had constant communication with each-other throughout the research process such as having meetings to discuss and keep up to date with their work.

Main Findings:

The findings were split into three categories: academic, social and personal challenges. There has been challenges in which international and home students both face, such as the academic challenges, due to being unfamiliar with the environment. They also found studies where it has been shown that the assignments were also a challenge along with group-work due to the diverse backgrounds between students. Homesickness was a huge challenge for students especially international students, as it may be the first time for them to move to a new unfamiliar country. Both home and international students also struggle to make friends at university, as students found it difficult to "engage with others outside the classrooms."

How I Relate:

As an international student living on campus I was afraid of not making an friends when starting university. However I have made many friends during the past few weeks, which I find have made my university experience so far better. I believe everyone struggles with the same things at the beginning, which is why you will be able to find your group and that may even last a lifetime. I struggle with homesick as well, as it is a 10+ hour flight from where I'm from, I miss my home and family a lot. As for now the classes have not been too difficult, as we are learning the basics. I find this to be a good transition for everyone as there may be students who have not studied a certain subject.