Research Proposal: Challenges for International Students in Australia

This research proposal examines the challenges international students encounter while studying in Australia. The introduction highlights the significant financial contributions of international students to Australian universities and the increasing number of students, particularly from China. Despite the benefits, international students face numerous issues, including cultural adjustment, academic and financial pressures, health concerns, loneliness, and interpersonal relationships. The research questions focus on identifying the major challenges and their impact on academic performance. The literature review explores existing research on international students' experiences, focusing on language barriers, cultural differences, and academic preparedness. The proposed methodology will involve a mixed-methods approach to investigate these challenges further. The report is structured into five chapters, including an introduction, literature review, methodology, data analysis, and conclusions with recommendations. The study aims to identify and analyze the challenges faced by international students and their effects on academic performance, offering insights for universities and government policies to better support these students and improve their success. The research also explores the factors affecting international students' academic and cultural differences.

Running head: RESEARCH PROPOSALS
RESEARCH PROPOSALS
Name of Student
Name of University
Author’s Note

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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION:..............................................................................................................3
Research Questions:.........................................................................................................5
Research Objectives:.......................................................................................................5
Structure of the Research Paper:......................................................................................5
LITERATURE REVIEW:...................................................................................................6
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:.................................................................................10
Introduction:..................................................................................................................10
Research Method Outline:.............................................................................................11
Research Onion:.............................................................................................................11
Research Philosophy:.....................................................................................................11
Research Approach:.......................................................................................................12
Justification for Chosen Research:................................................................................12
Research Design:...........................................................................................................12
GANTT CHART:..............................................................................................................12
QUESTIONNAIRE:..........................................................................................................13
REFERENCES:.................................................................................................................16

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INTRODUCTION:
In the last decade Australia saw a stiff rise in international students. An article stated that
money that comes from international students has significant financial viability for the number of
universities in Australia. The article also stated that during the financial year of 2003-04,
Australia experienced the economic surplus of AUS $ 5.622 billion just from international
students in the education sector. As per The Department of Education, Science, and Training, the
total number of international students enrolled with Australian universities is 322,776 of which
164,079 were registered in the Higher Education sector. Among all international students,
Chinese students hold a maximum percentage. As per the latest survey, there are more than 30%
of international students in Australia are from China. As per Australian Education International,
a government body states that the international Chinese pupils contribute to more than double the
total number of international university students. As per one of the studies, the percentages of
international students in Australia are expected to increase in the future. After enrolling in
Australian universities, international students get lots of exposures, which trained the students to
become a proficient professional. Despite getting great international exposures, international
students face a lot of issues. The issues are mostly related to the transition and adjusting in the
Australian culture. It is often seen that international students get accustomed during the first year
of the academic curriculum, but this adjustment is considered to be very stressful for maximum
international students. The main factors that contribute the most to the increase of stress are the
academic pressures that the course has to offer and financial pressures. Despite these issues,
another factor that creates stress for the students is health-related issues, the loneliness that they
have to face, interpersonal relationships and personal autonomy. The cultural differences are one
of the most notable problems that affect the student’s mental health. It is often seen that the stress

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level of the students is escalated further due to the lack of family support. Among all these the
major factors that affect the mental health of the students is the academic curriculum. The two-
thirds of international students stated that they are not prepared for the first year exams. The
number of setbacks or failures that international students face is due to transitional academic
issues rather than the lack of academic ability. As per Kerri-Lee Krause, the Project Director
from the Centre for the Study of Higher Education at the University of Melbourne indicated that
as per the current research the reasons behind the fewer marks in the first year for international
aspirants are due to the emotional health. The head also stated that due to this the student digrace
from the studies. Thus, it can be seen that the most notable issue that the international pupils
have to face is the emotional turmoil. Another study suggested that the main reason behind the
low score of the students is the student’s inability to adopt the transition.
Though many research paper states that transitional issues are the prime reason behind
the low marks of international students in the first year of academic curriculum. No evidence
suggests the international students are getting low marks due to the transitional change. Instead
there is enough evidence which states that the stress to pass the exam has a great repercussion on
the international students, as the fees and other charges for a year are pretty high for these
international students. As per The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs of
Australia, the student must maintain a valid enrolment to save themselves from the visa
cancellation. It is seen that the students who are not allowed to re-enroll in the university due to
the poor marks their visas are being revoked. The revoking of visa means that the students’ needs
to leave Australia immediately. This kind of rule creates a great mental pressure for the students,
which ultimately affects the student’s marks and reduces their performance in studies. In order to
mitigate such problems the government must develop policies that will assist the students to

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become more affluent in the studies. The change in policies will also assist the government to
gain more from international students.
The proficiency in English both in speaking and writing is a must needed thing for the
international students. It is often seen that due to less proficiency in English, international pupils
face serious problems. The most notable one is that they mostly failed to adapt to the culture of
the foreign land. Less proficiency in English is also a reason for fewer marks of the international
students in the first year exam.
Research Questions:
In order to identify the problems that are associated with the international students in
Australia this research paper raised two major questions. They are as follows:
 What is the major (top) challenges international students face when coming to
Australia as found in the literature?
 Do these challenges affecting student’s academic performance?
Research Objectives:
 To identify the major or top challenges that international student face when
coming to Australia.
 To identify whether these challenges affecting international student’s academic
performance.
Structure of the Research Paper:
In order to conduct the research on the challenges that international students face when it
comes to Australia for higher studies, the research paper will be divided into five chapters. The
first chapter will deal with the introduction of the topic. The second chapter will deal with the

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literature review where different topic related articles and journals will be reviewed. The third
chapter will discuss the research methodology where the methods that will be used by the
researcher to reach satisfactory results. The fourth chapter will analyse the data that will be
collected for research purposes. The last chapter will discuss answers to the research questions
and recommending steps that can mitigate the problems that international students are facing in
Australia.
LITERATURE REVIEW:
In order to conduct the research it is very important to oversee the previously made
articles or journals. In this research paper the different articles are being reviewed to identify the
gap that exists in the previous research paper. It will assist this research paper to fulfill the gap.
Thus, the different research paper has been reviewed below:
The first article that is being reviewed is about the experiences that international Ph.D.
students experience in Australia. Jeon Bae Son and Stand Song Park conducted this research
paper. As per the researchers Australia remained a pivotal point in the world for a few decades
who are providing the high quality of education to the international students and other education
industries that are associated with them (Son and Park 2014.). Australia is a hotspot for higher
education like PhD and the students all over the world are coming to enroll in these academic
curricula. The researcher stated that due to the limited availability of resources for the
international students and the lack of research concerning the international students the factors
that affect the student’s academic course are still unknown. Thus, there is a need for proper
research that will determine the challenges that international students are facing. The researcher
stated that learning a new academic culture in a new country enables international Ph.D. students
to reach situations where they have to deal with a range of language problems, cultural

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differences and personal matters. The study reported in this article explores international non-
English speaking background (NESB) students’ experiences with university preparation
programs and Ph.D. programs and investigates the issues they face at an Australian university
with a focus on factors affecting the NESB students’ academic experiences. It provides
implications for the teaching of postgraduate preparation programs and the supervision of
international NESB Ph.D. students at Australian universities.
Another research paper written by Nirseen Alsahafi and Seong Chul Shin discusses the
factors that affect the academic and cultural differences of Saudi International students in
Australian Universities. In order to conduct this research the researcher tries to investigate the
factors that affect the Saudi Arabian students in Australian Universities by identifying the
educational experiences of the students. They also tried to investigate the issues that Saudi
Arabian students are facing in Australian Universities (Alsahafi and Shin 2019). The researcher
collected data from 100 Saudi Arabian international students who are currently studying at
Australian Universities in Sydney. The researcher used the primary data collection method for
collecting the data. They conducted interviews with 100 international students. As per the
analysis it can be stated the researcher identified the main adjustment issues that Saudi Arabian
students are facing in Australian Universities. The researcher stated that the language barrier is
one of the major problems that Saudi Arabian students are facing in both academic and social
adjustment. Some of the other factors like activities in the classrooms and different assessment
methods and social factors like homesickness and loneliness are the main reasons that are
affecting the marks of these students. The researcher also stated that Saudi Arabian students are
also got benefitted from such a curriculum and some of them are implementing strategies to cope

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up with the culture of Australia, improvement in proficiency of English, time management and
social skills (Yu and Wright 2016).
Another research paper states the problems that international students are facing in
Australia. This research paper also discusses Australia’s journey to becoming an academic hub
for international students. The paper also discusses the quality of the education and the exposures
that Australian universities provide to these international students. Baohua Yu and Ewan Wright
stated that in the 21st century the popularity of Australian education increased among
international students around the world. The increase in international students is seen mainly in
higher education. The Ph.D. curriculum is the most acceptable curriculum among international
students. The researches stated that these international Ph.D. students often encounter a wide
range of academic and socio-cultural challenges. In order to adapt to this new environment, these
international students have a significant bearing on their levels of satisfaction with their studies.
This paper conducted a mixed-method study approach to explore the experiences and perceptions
of international higher degree research students from five different countries in Australia. As per
the researcher the most significant issues in terms of satisfaction are not directly related to the
studies or any kind of academic curriculum. Instead, factors such as integration into the
community, interacting with other students, and relationships with supervisors, and the provision
of adequate desk space are helping the students to get accustomed to the culture and academic
curriculum. Implications for how university policy can better support international doctoral
students are discussed. The government of Australia should also develop policies that may help
students to get accustomed to the culture and academic curriculum.

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Chetanath Gautam et al (2015) stated about the challenges that international students face
all over the world. The authors try to identify the international students’ experiences and
challenges they felt while attending universities in Small Town USA. These international
students are very much eager to study in the United States of America, but it is seen that these
international students faced a considerable amount of setbacks. These setbacks are
unrecognizable and universities in the United States of America are also unable to recognize or
realize it. In order to identify the challenges that international students have to face while
completing their higher degrees the researchers adopted the interview approach. They took a
purposive sample of students and questions based on information from the literature and took an
initial survey. The challenging factors that emerged from the data analysis were language,
jobs/finances, transportation, assimilation, religious interactions, and identity. These are the
factors that international students face while completing their education in the United States.
Catherine Gomes et al (2014) states researched the international students and their social-
based network in Australia. This paper tries to identify the role that international students play in
their academic life in Australia. The researcher also tries to identify the process that the
international students are forming through social networks at an Australian institution. The
researcher also tries to investigate how these networks are contributing to creating a sense of
home away for them. After researching, the researcher stated that that international students form
distinct social networks that are not solely made up of fellow students from their home countries
rather international students form a mixture of social networks that are based on the complex
individual identities of each student-centered on a variety of common factors. These factors
include the course of study, place of work, neighborhood, culture, religion and personal interests
or hobbies. Hence, it can be identified that students in a social group can be outside of the

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country. Thus, the researcher concluded that social media networks do diversify the actual
network of international students. The students also state that due to the social media marketing
assist the international students to be connected with the home, which ultimately reduces the
lowliness of the international students.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
Introduction:
In order to conduct the research with a feasible and credible procedure the research
methodology is required. It provides a solid base to the research paper and researcher follows the
research methodology while conducting the research. One of the main aspects of this chapter is
to understand the gap that exists in the research paper that is related to the above-mentioned
topic. This chapter also explains the main pivot point that the research paper needs to focus on.
This assists the researcher to create a successful outcome for this research paper. The research
methodology is conducted to reduce the gap or obsolete the gap which was present in the
previous research papers. Research methodology also helps the researcher to understand whether
the research is on track or not. The research methodology which is mentioned in this case should
not diverge from the main research rather it should help the research, so that the research
findings should remain genuine and useful for further research. The third part of the research
focused on increasing the strengths of the research so that the research can meet the objective of
the research. It will also solidify the reasons to be needed for accomplishing the study and hence
the study can reach its desired conclusion. Thus, research methodology is an integral part of the
dissertation and it is supported by the efficient analysis, which needs to be followed for
collecting the information and eventually reaching the goal. The research also offers the

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processed data and the findings which are being interpreted with utmost accuracy, so that the
research should reach the desired feasible solution.
Research Method Outline:
The research approach, which is adopted here for the sake of this paper, is the deductive
method. This researcher helps to focus on the studies and the models related to studies.
Analytical design and descriptive design will be implemented while creating this research paper.
The research of the study is to be organized by econometrically modeling and also through
forecasting. Both the quantitative approach and also the qualitative approach is to be adopted.
Research Onion:
Research onion is one of the layer oriented design which can be framed to research the
form of layers. The data which are processed and provides information are individually
represented through the research onion. Many tools are used for developing knowledge for the
research. In research onion there are six types of research layers. This includes research
philosophy, research strategy, techniques, procedures, choices and also the time horizon. This
helps to understand the research in a much better way because it represented through a diagram.
Research Philosophy:
The research philosophy is said to be a set of beliefs that are being categorized into three
basic aspects. These aspects are realism, positivism, and interpretivism. The study developed the
following philosophical view. In this research paper, positivism will be used. Realism on the
other hand is the combination of both positivism and interpretivism. Interpretivism alone used to
depict business activities. This way helps to use the market scenario which is also one of the
parts of the research.

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Research Approach:
There are two types of research approaches namely the deductive approach and also the
inductive research which deals with the theories and models of the research. In the case of the
inductive approach, the analysis states the research is made on a new approach and new sets of
models for theoretical information. To conduct this research paper the deductive approach has
been followed. The deductive approach has been adopted because the research needs to be
reached after analysing the research and then move forward.
Justification for Chosen Research:
The deductive research has been adopted because the researcher has gone for help from
the existing theories and models which are to undertaken. To conduct this research the inductive
approach has not adopted. It is done because for this research no new theories are to be
developed or no new models to be created and hence it is not taken into consideration.
Research Design:
The research designs which are to be implemented in this research are analytical,
expletory, explanatory and also descriptive. The descriptive research design approach enables the
paper to represent the information in the most pinpoint manner. The explanatory method has will
be using during the beginning stage of the study. This explanatory research design helps in the
development of the two existing variables which are related to the study.
GANTT CHART:
TIME PERIOD: WEEK 1 WEEK 2 WEEK 3 WEEK 4
INTRODUCTION
LITERATURE

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REVIEW
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
DATA ANALYSIS
CONCLUSION
QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. Gender:
Male/Female/Other
2. I am pursuing….
Graduation/Post-Graduation/PhD
3. I am in
…………………………………. (Name of the institution)
4. I am from
…………………………………. (Country)
5. I am staying at
Home/Hostel/Private Boarding Place/Others…………………………………………..
(Please Mention)
6. The issues that I have come across during the first year/semester of my university?
Depression/Social anxiety/Academic Distress/Eating
Concerns/Homesickness/Hostility/Substance Use (Alcohol/Drugs)/Financial
Distress/Lack of Sleep
7. In order to deal with the above-mentioned issue do you find any support?

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Yes/No
8. Do you meet with the college/university councillor for help
Yes/No
9. I am part of following club or youth organizations of university
………………………………………………………………
10. I am member of sports team of university
……………………………………….
11. I am pursuing another qualification like CMA/CA/CS/JAVA, etc.
………………………………………..
12. I have faced verbal/mental abuse by the member of the university
Yes/No
13. I regret to choose the course that I am following right now?
Strongly Agree/Agree/Disagree/Strongly Disagree
14. I find hard to understand the lectures, because
Lack of English knowledge/Lecturer’s incompetence/my incompetence/lack of
guidance/I don’t find lectures hard to understand
15. I feel extremely pressured because of the course curriculum
Yes/No
16. The study material provided by the university is sufficient
Yes/No
17. University provides sufficient guidance
Yes/No
18. University utilizes their facilities properly

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Yes/No
19. Food I am consuming is healthy
Yes/No
20. The factors that used to affect my studies during first year/semester (minimum 3 factors)
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

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REFERENCES:
Alsahafi, N. and Shin, S.C., 2019. Factors affecting the academic and cultural adjustment of
Saudi international students in Australian universities. Journal of International Students, 2017
Vol. 7 (1), 7(1), pp.53-72.
Banjong, D.N., 2015. International students’ enhanced academic performance: Effects of
campus resources. Journal of International Students, 5(2), pp.132-142.
Barton, G.M., Hartwig, K.A. and Cain, M., 2015. International students’ experience of
practicum in teacher education: An exploration through internationalisation and professional
socialisation. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 40(8), p.9.
Choudaha, R. and de Wit, H., 2014. Challenges and opportunities for global student mobility
in the future: A comparative and critical analysis. Internationalisation of higher education
and global mobility, 23.
Forbes-Mewett, H., McCulloch, J. and Nyland, C., 2015. International students and crime.
Springer.
Fotovatian, S. and Miller, J., 2014. Constructing an institutional identity in university tea
rooms: The international PhD student experience. Higher Education Research &
Development, 33(2), pp.286-297.
Gautam, C., Lowery, C.L., Mays, C. and Durant, D., 2016. Challenges for global learners: A
qualitative study of the concerns and difficulties of international students. Journal of
International Students, 6(2), pp.501-526.

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Gomes, C., 2015. Negotiating everyday life in Australia: Unpacking the parallel society
inhabited by Asian international students through their social networks and entertainment
media use. Journal of Youth Studies, 18(4), pp.515-536.
Hawthorne, L., 2014. Indian students and the evolution of the study‐migration pathway in
Australia. International Migration, 52(2), pp.3-19.
Pham, L. and Tran, L., 2015. Understanding the symbolic capital of intercultural interactions:
A case study of international students in Australia. International Studies in Sociology of
Education, 25(3), pp.204-224.
Son, J.B. and Park, S.S., 2014. Academic experiences of international PhD students in
Australian higher education: From an EAP program to a PhD program. International Journal
of Pedagogies and Learning, 9(1), pp.26-37.
Stein, S. and de Andreotti, V.O., 2016. Cash, competition, or charity: International students
and the global imaginary. Higher Education, 72(2), pp.225-239.
Sullivan, C. and Kashubeck-West, S., 2015. The interplay of international students’
acculturative stress, social support, and acculturation modes. Journal of International
Students, 5(1), pp.1-11.
Yu, B. and Wright, E., 2016. Socio-cultural adaptation, academic adaptation and satisfaction
of international higher degree research students in Australia. Tertiary Education and
Management, 22(1), pp.49-64.

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