Share Your Voices: capturing the perspectives of international students

International students have been a growing cohort in UK universities and remain a significant presence despit the impact of policy changes. However, the picture for international students joining UK institutions is complex, and their voices often unheard: little of the data on international students is drawn from international students themselves. Furthermore, there is little by way of a coordinated strategy to support the necessary adjustment processes of international students andtheir institutions. This paper argues that it is ethically important that universities understand how to better support these students, as well as culturally and economically vital for the continued growth and success of UK higher education.

The aim of this research was to give voice to the international students on an MA programme at one post-1992 university; to find out more about their experiences with a view to informing future teaching and support practices. This aim is reflected in the project methodology, Constructivist Grounded Theory, which can be a powerful catalyst by which to amplify voices and foster agency in change processes. The project team consisted of an academic member of staff and two international students currently undertaking the MA, the presence and insight of the latter has been instrumental in shaping the data collection and analysis. Though small-scale in nature, the project has succeeded in its aim of 'demuting' the voices of some of the students, going onto to not only inform subsequent developments on the programme, but reaching a wider audience across the institution and its hierarchy.