In today's globalised world, the UK is the second most popular destination for international students (Bolton et al., 2023), including those from Arab countries. Arab students face various challenges in the UK due to differences in language, religious beliefs, and social priorities. This study aimed to explore the challenges young Arab students encounter in UK higher education, based on in-depth interviews with 20 Arab international students aged 18–25 and thematic analysis. Three key challenges emerged: English proficiency, forming friendships, and developing cultural competency. The findings highlight the need for more inclusive internationalisation and for aligning institutional policies with actual student needs to support academic and intercultural development.

Authors:
Ruqaiah Al-Kabab, The University of Salford Manchester, United Kingdom
Fahid Qurashi, The University of Salford, United Kingdom
Donna Peach, The University of Salford, United Kingdom
Kellie Thompson, The University of Salford, United Kingdom

About the Presenter(s)
Ruqaiah Al-Kabab is a PhD researcher specialising in counselling and psychotherapy at the University of Salford. Her doctoral research demonstrates a deep interest to exploring the lived experiences of young Arab international students in the UK.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Friday Schedule

Bookmark