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Dissertation
Lived experiences of international students from areas that are underrepresented: a phenomenological study
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
Mar 2026
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00011315
Abstract
International students contribute academically, culturally, and economically to colleges and universities in the United States. While much research has focused on students from the largest sending countries, less attention has been given to students from underrepresented countries within institutional international populations. Understanding how these students experience campus life is important for institutions seeking to foster belonging and engagement across diverse national contexts. This interpretive phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of international undergraduate students from underrepresented countries at a Southeastern public research university. The study examined how participants described the role of institutional support and campus engagement in shaping their sense of belonging, how they connected their cultural and national identities to overall satisfaction, and how recruitment and decision-making pathways influenced their expectations and experiences after arrival. Individual and paired semi-structured interviews were conducted virtually to gather qualitative data. Findings suggest that satisfaction was shaped by the interaction between student initiative and institutional responsiveness, with cultural identity and recruitment expectations functioning as contextual factors rather than determinants of belonging. Keywords: international students, qualitative study, student engagement, student satisfaction, retention
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Details
- Title
- Lived experiences of international students from areas that are underrepresented
- Creators
- B. Lanie Kirkland
- Contributors
- Harriette Rasmussen (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University
- Number of pages
- 123 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Education (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991022170446904721