Problems Faced by International Students free essay sample

Every year there are around 435,000 international students enrolled in universities around the UK (UKCISA). Studying abroad for a lot of these students is a privilege, however it can be a stressful experience for various reasons. There are plenty of challenges, other than language barrier, that these students face, like major culture shock, homesickness, and financial difficulties. One of the most obvious difficulties for an international student is culture shock. Culture shock is the result of moving from an environment that is familiar to one that is not. Adjusting to new food, people, environment and currency is all a part of getting over culture shock. The first element that might contribute to culture shock is adjusting to the climate. A lot of the international students, who are used to a warm sunny climate, might find it hard to adjust to the dampness and greyness of the UK weather, especially during the winter (UKCISA, December 2008). We will write a custom essay sample on Problems Faced by International Students or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Temperatures could go down to -11 degrees Co, however in the summer it could go up to 35 degrees Co. Their ever-changing unpredictable weather can be tough to adjust to. Another part of culture shock is the social roles of people in the society. Social behaviors may be surprising or offensive depending on where a student is from. For example, living in big cities people may not be as friendly and comfortable if they’re unfamiliar with one another, however people of small towns tend to be more sociable and friendly with each other regardless of the circumstances. This can come off as strange or different to the students coming from all over the world, however adapting to that can facilitate the experience of studying abroad. Transitioning from one lifestyle to another can be a somewhat difficult experience. Although at first, studying abroad might be exciting, when the time comes students may experience homesickness. More than 30% of international students report frequent feelings of homesickness (Kegel, 2009). Homesickness is the feeling of discomfort due to being separated from home. It causes students to be distracted, distressed, and down. It can also affect a student’s academic performance and social life. Those who suffer from homesickness are less likely to continue to the spring term. It was reported that only 83. 7% of international students who suffer severe homesickness continue their education abroad. And those who continue their education may have significant inferences for first-year student success (Darlena Jones, 2012). Another problem that’s faced by international students is their financial instability. Moving from one country to another isn’t an easy transition, and having to adjust to a new currency can be very challenging. Not only that, but also paying for tuition fees and accommodation as well as a daily allowance. Now that tuition fees have increased 20% between 2011 and 2012, it’s difficult for many students to manage and budget their money (Adams, 2013). It is possible that a lot of the students are coming from developing countries and the GBP is very high compared to their currencies back home. A small amount of money in England could be a large amount for an international student. Not only that but also there are many students who have never had to pay taxes in their own countries and are asked to do so in the UK, meaning they have to adjust to having to pay more money than they usually do for the same item they usually buy. A student might think that getting a bank loan or credit card is the way to solve any financial issue, but in fact it does the exact opposite and the student could be in debt for a very long time. The United Kingdom is well known for it’s excellent reputation when it comes to education and that’s why it’s a lot of international student’s first choice. Moving away from their hometowns to study in the UK can be a wonderful opportunity, yet a challenging experience all at the same time. There are numerous problems that they face as it differs from one student. Other than the obvious language barriers, they may experience culture shock as they may be coming from countries on the other side of the world. They may also experience homesickness, and financial problems. Nevertheless it’s possible to find solutions to these difficulties and to adjust to these following problems and enjoying a wonderful education experience abroad.