Fundamental challenges encountered by international graduate students

Action research to enhance the well-being of Turkish scholars abroad

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/kf1k1896

Keywords:

International education, participatory action research, Turkish graduate students, state scholarship, Wellbeing, student support services

Abstract

Adopting a mixed-methods approach within the participatory action research framework, this study aims to identify the challenges faced by Turkish graduate students studying abroad under state scholarships. The interviews were conducted with six former scholars and four experts from the Turkish Ministry of Education to ensure that the participants' voices directly informed the research process. Insights from these interviews guided the development of an online survey. The results highlighted psychosocial stressors, communication issues, and gaps in institutional support. Action items were disseminated to policymakers to inform practice changes. The findings led to policy recommendations, with the Ministry subsequently establishing a "Psychological Counseling and Guidance Unit" to provide online counseling to students abroad. 

Author Biographies

  • Ayse Cobanoglu, Bogazici University, Turkiye

    Dr. Ayse Cobanoglu earned her Master’s in Educational Administration and Supervision from Marmara University (Turkey) and her PhD in Educational Psychology and Quantitative Methods from the University at Buffalo-SUNY(USA). She completed her postdoctoral research in the Child Study Center at Yale University. Currently, she serves as an Educational Specialist at the Ministry of Education in Turkey.

  • Duygu Cavdar, Ministry of National Education, Türkiye

    Dr. Duygu Cavdar earned her Master’s in Counselling Psychology from Ankara University (Turkey) and her PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Bristol (the UK). She currently serves as an Educational Specialist at the Ministry of Education in Turkey. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Middle East Technical University, Ankara.

  • Peri Tutar, Verona University, Italy

    Dr. Peri Tutar earned her Master’s and PhD in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education from Ankara University (Turkey). She currently serves as a coordinator of educational programs at the Directorate General for Higher and Foreign Education in the Ministry of Education in Turkey. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Baskent University, Ankara.

  • Dilek Avci, Hacettepe University, Türkiye

    Dr. Dilek Avci earned her Master’s and PhD in Counselling Psychology and Guidance from Hacettepe University (Turkey). During her doctoral studies, she visited Penn State University with a TUBITAK Scholarship. Currently, she works as a faculty member at Hacettepe University and provides supervision to YLSY-PDR (Psychological Counseling and Guidance) Unit in the Ministry of Education in Turkey.

References

Aktekin, S., & Karataş, F. (2019). Resmi Burslu Statüde Yurt Dışına Lisansüstü Eğitime Gönderilen Öğrencilerin Karşılaştıkları Sorunlar ve Çözüm Önerileri. Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi, 21(3), 487-510.

Aktekin, S., & Tekben, İ. (2019). 1416 Sayılı Kanun kapsamında yurt dışında lisansüstü öğrenim görenlerin çalıştıkları kamu kurum ve kuruluşlarına yaptıkları katkılar ile ilgili görüşlerin analizi. Milli Eğitim Dergisi, 48(224), 123-147.

Alavi, M., & Mansor, S. M. S. (2011). Categories of problems among international students in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 30, 1581–1587. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.10.307 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.10.307

Amirali, S., & Bakken, J. P. (2015). Trends and challenges of recruiting and retaining international graduate students: An internal perspective. Journal of Education Research, 9(4), 425-433.

Ankomah, W. S. (2022). Conditions Fostering International Graduate Students' Happiness and Engagement during the COVID-19 Pandemic. World journal of education, 12(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.5430/wje.v12n1p1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5430/wje.v12n1p1

Baum, F., MacDougall, C., & Smith, D. (2006). Participatory action research. Journal of epidemiology and community health, 60(10), 854. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2004.028662 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2004.028662

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa DOI: https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2013). Successful Qualitative Research a Practical Guide for Beginners. London: Sage.

Burkholder, J. R. (2014). Reflections of Turkish International Graduate Students: Studies on Life at a U.S. Midwestern University. International Journal for the Advancement Counseling, 36, 43-57 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-013-9189-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-013-9189-5

Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development. Cambridge, M. A.: Harvard University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4159/9780674028845

Brown L., & Jones I. (2013). Encounters with racism and the international student experience. Studies in Higher Education, 38(7), 1004-1019. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2011.614940 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2011.614940

Burdett J., & Crossman J. (2012). Engaging international students: An analysis of the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) reports. Quality Assurance in Education, 20(3), 207-222. DOI:10.1108/09684881211240286 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/09684881211240286

Byrne E., Brugha R., & McGarvey A. (2019). A melting pot of cultures' -challenges in social adaptation and interactions among international medical students. BMC Medical Education, 19(1), 86-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-019-1514-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-019-1514-1

Chen, J., & Zhou, G. (2019). Chinese international students’ sense of belonging in North American postsecondary institutions: A critical literature review. Brock Education Journal, 28(2), 48-63. https://doi.org/10.26522/brocked.v28i2.642 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26522/brocked.v28i2.642

Click, A. B. (2018). International graduate students in the United States: Research processes and challenges. Library & Information Science Research, 40(2), 153-162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2018.05.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2018.05.004

Cobanoglu, A., Cavdar, D., Tutar, P. & Avci, D. (2025). Psychosocial Challenges of Turkish Students Abroad: A Descriptive Study on the Intersection of Postgraduate Stressors and Wellbeing Issues in Emerging Adulthood. Presented at the European Society for Research in Adult Development (ESRAD) Online Conference.

Corey, G. (2018). The art of integrative counseling. John Wiley & Sons.

Corey, G., Haynes, R. H., Molton, P., & Muratori, M. (2020). Clinical supervision in the helping professions: A practical guide. John Wiley & Sons.

Cornish, F., Breton, N., Moreno-Tabarez, U., Delgado, J., Rua, M., de-Graft Aikins, A., & Hodgetts, D. (2023). Participatory action research. Nature Reviews Methods Primers, 3(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43586-023-00214-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43586-023-00214-1

Dovchin, S. (2020). The psychological damages of linguistic racism and international students in Australia. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 23(7), 804–818. https://doi.org/10.1080/13670050.2020.1759504 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13670050.2020.1759504

Elliot, D. L., Reid, K., & Baumfield, V. (2016). Beyond the amusement, puzzlement and challenges: an enquiry into international students’ academic acculturation. Studies in Higher Education (Dorchester-on-Thames), 41(12), 2198-2217. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2015.1029903 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2015.1029903

Elturki E., Liu Y., Hjeltness J., & Hellmann K. (2019). Needs, expectations, and experiences of international students in pathway programs in the United States. Journal of International Students, 9(1), 192-210. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v9i1.274 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v9i1.274

Erturk, S., Oker, K., & Nguyen Luu, L. A. (2021). “I am not an Immigrant. I am an International Student": A Qualitative Study of Adaptation Experiences of Turkish International Students in Germany. Journal of International Students, 12(3), 716-735. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v12i3.3776 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v12i3.3776

Gagnon, J. (2020). Campus Activism: Understanding Engagement, Inspiration, and Burnout in Student Experiences. Honors Scholar Theses, University of Connecticut.

Galloway, F. J., & Jenkins, J. R. (2005). The adjustment problems faced by international students in the United States: A comparison of international students and administrative perceptions at two private, religiously affiliated universities. NASPA Journal, 42(2), 175-187. https://doi.org/10.2202/1949-6605.5038 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2202/1949-6605.1471

Gebru, M. S., & Yuksel-Kaptanoglu, I. (2020). Adaptation challenges for international students in Turkey. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 8(9), 262-278. doi: 10.4236/jss.2020.89021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2020.89021

Gupta, S., Jaiswal, A., Paramasivam, A., & Kotecha, J. (2022). Academic writing challenges and supports: Perspectives of international doctoral students and their supervisors. Frontiers in Education, 7, Article 891534.https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.891534 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.891534

Huang, Y. (2012). Transitioning challenges faced by Chinese graduate students. Adult learning, 23(3), 138-147. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159512452861 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159512452861

Jones, E. (2017). Problematising and reimagining the notion of “international student experience.” Studies in Higher Education (Dorchester-on-Thames), 42(5), 933-943. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2017.1293880 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2017.1293880

Kaur Mehar Singh, M., & Xue, W. (2025). Review of intercultural academic and social challenges among Chinese international students in Malaysia. Journal of International Students, 15(11), 99-120. https://doi.org/10.32674/f8zc6t90 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/f8zc6t90

Karakaş, A. (2020). Disciplining transnationality? The impact of study abroad educational experiences on Turkish returnee scholars’ lives, careers and identity. Research in Comparative and International Education, 15(3), 252-272. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745499920946223 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1745499920946223

Kemmis, S. (2006). Participatory action research and the public sphere. Educational Action Research, 14(4), 459-476. https://doi.org/10.1080/09650790600975593 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09650790600975593

Khanal J., & Gaulee U. (2019). Challenges of international students from predeparture to poststudy: A literature review. Journal of International Students, 9(2), 560-581. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v9i2.673 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v9i2.673

Kuo, Y. H. (2011). Language challenges faced by international graduate students in the United States. Journal of International Students, 1(2), 38-42.

Kurtović, A. (2018). Prevalence of adjustment problems in university students: effects of gender and change of residence. International Journal of Education and Psychology in the Community (IJEPC), 8(1&2), 7-27.

Lee, J. J. (2010). International students’ experiences and attitudes at a US host institution: Self-reports and future recommendations. Journal of Research in International Education, 9(1), 66-84. https://doi.org/10.1177/1475240909356382 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1475240909356382

Lee, J. Y., & Ciftci, A. (2014). Asian international students’ sociocultural adaptation: Influence of multicultural personality, assertiveness, academic self-efficacy, and social support. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 38, 97-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2013.08.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2013.08.009

Kuo Y. H. (2011). Language challenges faced by international graduate students in the United States. Journal of International Students, 1, 38-42. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v1i2.551 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v1i2.551

Law About the Students to Send to Foreign Countries, No. 1416. (1929). https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuatmetin/1.3.1416.pdf

Lu, L. (1990). Adaptation to British universities: Homesickness and mental health of Chinese students. Counseling Psychology Quarterly, 3(3), 225-232. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515079008254253 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09515079008254253

Mahmoud, M. A., Oppong E., Twimasie D., Husseini M. M., Kastner A. N. A., & Oppong M. (2020). Culture and country choice of international students: Evidence from Ghana. Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, 30(1), 105-124. https://doi.org/10.1080/08841241.2019.1688444 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08841241.2019.1688444

Marginson, S. (2014). Student self-formation in international education. Journal of Studies in International Education, 18(1), 6-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315313513036

Muuss, R. E. (2006). Theories of adolescence. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishers.

Oduwaye, O., Kiraz, A., & Sorakin, Y. (2023). A Trend Analysis of the Challenges of International Students Over 21 Years. SAGE Open, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231210387 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231210387

Oz Cetindere, E., & Shin, D. (2025). Turkish students’ intercultural challenges and aspirations in U.S. universities: A social media analysis. Journal of International Students, 15(1), 129-150. https://doi.org/10.32674/9xv7tx87 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/9xv7tx87

Pineda, J., Kercher J., Falk S., Thies T., Yildirim H. H., & Zimmermann J. (2022). Accompanying international students in Germany to academic success. The results and recommendations from the SeSaBa project. DAAD. https://static.daad.de/media/daad_de/pdfs_nicht_barrierefrei/der-daad/analysen-studien/daad_sesaba_final_report.pdf DOI: https://doi.org/10.46685/DAADStudien.2022.07

Poedjiastutie, D. (2015). Culture shock experienced by foreign students studying at Indonesian universities. TEFLIN Journal, 20(1), 25-36. https://doi.org/10.15639/teflinjournal.v20i1/25-36 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15639/teflinjournal.v20i1/25-36

Poyrazli, S., & Grahame, K. M. (2007). Barriers to adjustment: Needs of international students within a semiurban campus community. Journal of instructional Psychology, 34(1), 28.

Poyrazli, S., Arbona, C., Bullington, R., & Pisecco, S. (2001). Adjustment issues of Turkish college students studying in the United States. College Student Journal, 35(1).

Rodríguez, C., Chavez, C. R., & Klauber, C. (2019). International Graduate Student Challenges and Support. International Research and Review, 8(2), 49-64.

Rosenthal, D., Russell, J., & Thomson, G. (2006). A growing experience: The health and the well-being of international students at the University of Melbourne. The University of Melbourne.

Russell, J., Rosenthal, D., & Thomson, G. (2010). The international student experience: Three styles of adaptation. Higher Education, 60(2), 235-249. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-009-9297-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-009-9297-7

Sawir, E. (2005). Language difficulties of international students in Australia: The effects of a prior learning experience. International Education Journal, 6(5), 567-580.

Sawir, E., Marginson, S., Deumert, A., Nyland, C., & Ramia, G. (2008). Loneliness and international students: An Australian study. Journal of Studies in International Education, 12(2), 148-180. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315307299699

Sena, T. N., & Iyad M. E. (2022). Challenges Faced by Turkish Students Adjusting to Multicultural Environment in the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM). IIUM Journal of Religion and Civilizational Studies, 5(1), 5-26. https://doi.org/10.31436/ijrcs.v5i1.211

Sheng, L., Dai, J., & Lei, J. (2022). The impacts of academic adaptation on psychological and sociocultural adaptation among international students in China: The moderating role of friendship. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 89, 79-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2022.06.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2022.06.001

Shah, A. A., Lopes A., & Kareem L. (2019). Challenges faced by international students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Perspectives in Higher Education, 4(1), 111-135. https://doi.org/10.32674/jimphe.v4i1.1408 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/jimphe.v4i1.1408

Sherry, M., Thomas P., & Chui W. H. (2010). International students: A vulnerable student population. Higher Education, 60(1), 33-46.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-009-9284-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-009-9284-z

Singh, M. K. M., & Kaur, M. (2016). An emic perspective on academic writing difficulties among international graduate students in Malaysia. GEMA Online® Journal of Language Studies, 16(3), 83-97. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17576/gema-2016-1603-06

Singh, M. K. M., Pandian, A., & Singh, S. K. G. (2015). International graduate students’ experience in academic listening practices in a Malaysian public university: Challenges and overcoming measures. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 24, 91-102. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-013-0162-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-013-0162-1

Sudhakaran, S., Nur, N., & Zarraa, A. (2024). Navigating the challenges: Understandıng anxiety among internatıonal graduate students in the Unıted States. In IATED, 7664-7672. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21125/inted.2024.2041

Sung, C. C. M. (2022). International students’ identity negotiation in the context of international education: Experiences of Burmese students in Hong Kong. Research Papers in Education. 38(6), 987-1007. https://doi.org/10.1080/02671522.2022.2089207 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02671522.2022.2089207

Tan, S. R., Lin, A., Fisher, C., Bouras, H., D’Mello, C., Hill, J., Hansen, A., & Marriott, R. (2025). Understanding the risk and protective factors associated with depressive symptoms in international students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of International Students, 15(10), 199-249. https://doi.org/10.32674/47n8z156 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/47n8z156

Terui, S. (2011). Second language learners' coping strategy in conversations with native speakers. Journal of International Students, 2(2), 168–183. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v2i2.530 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v2i2.530

Turkiye Today. (2024, September 16). Anatomy of visa crisis: Turkish students struggle for place in Europe. Türkiye Today. https://www.turkiyetoday.com/opinion/anatomy-of-visa-crisis-turkish-students-struggle-for-place-in-europe-3206187

Tutar, H. (2023). A Retrospective Phenomenological Study on the Language Challenges Faced by Turkish Graduate Students at U.S. Universities. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 52(1), 247-281. https://doi.org/10.14812/cuefd.126508 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14812/cuefd.1265080

Yi, J. K., Lin, J. G., & Kishimoto, Y. (2003). Utilization of counseling services by international students. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 30, 333-346.

Vaughn, L. M., & Jacquez, F. (2020). Participatory Research Methods – Choice Points in the Research Process. Journal of Participatory Research Methods, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.35844/001c.13244 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35844/001c.13244

Vasquez Diaz, K. R., & Iqbal, J. (2024). Challenges Faced by International Students in Understanding British Accents and Their Mitigation Strategies—A Mixed Methods Study. Education Sciences, 14(7), 784-. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14070784 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14070784

Woloshyn, V., Savage, M. J., Ratkovic, S., Hands, C., & Martinovic, D. (2019). Exploring professors’ experiences supporting graduate student well-being in Ontario faculties of education. International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education, 8(4), 397-411.https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMCE-02-2019-0028 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMCE-02-2019-0028

Wu, H. P., Garza E., & Guzman N. (2015). International student’s challenge and adjustment to college. Education Research International, 2015, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/202753 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/202753

Downloads

Published

2026-02-23

Issue

2026: Online First: Journal of International Students

Section

Special Issue | Building Inclusive Futures

Categories

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of International Students

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Copyright (c) [year] [author]
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

How to Cite

Cobanoglu, A., Cavdar, D., Tutar, P., & Avci, D. (2026). Fundamental challenges encountered by international graduate students: Action research to enhance the well-being of Turkish scholars abroad. Journal of International Students, 67-104. https://doi.org/10.32674/kf1k1896