In the wake of growing internationalisation of higher education and the rising number of Chinese students studying abroad, this book examines how higher education institutions can better support this student population, and innovatively uses Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to offer a unique, in-depth exploration of the subjective experiences of these students.

Based on extensive data collected over a three-year period, the book features first-hand experience from interviews which explored the personal challenges and strategies employed by students to manage their mental health, wellbeing, and academic performance in a foreign environment. Chapters showcase successful cultural adaptation strategies employed by Chinese students, further enhancing cultural competence by explaining how Chinese cultural values influence students' approaches to wellbeing and academic success.

The book also features a discussion of international students’ the physical and psychological challenges experienced by international students during the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately presenting evidence-based research recommendations that can be applied to improve support services for international students worldwide.

Amily D. Wang Guénier is Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy and Health Services Research and Deputy Programme Director of the BSc Clinical Pharmacy programme at the University of Manchester, UK. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on intercultural health communication, international student experiences, AI-mediated communication, and healthcare education. She has extensive experience in international higher education, student wellbeing, and cross-cultural adaptation, and has led collaborative research and educational initiatives across the UK and internationally.

Minjie Xing is Professor of Chinese and Language Pedagogy at the University of Manchester and serves as Programme Director for Joint Honors Degrees in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures. She is a National Teaching Fellow and Principal Fellow of Advance HE in the UK. Her research and teaching expertise spans Business Chinese, multimodal language learning, and the application of artificial intelligence in language education.