Title: What really matters? Factors impacting international student satisfaction: the case of the UK

Authors: Rachael H. Merola; Robert J. Coelen; W.H.A. Hofman

Addresses: Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands; Centre for Internationalisation of Education (Campus Fryslân), University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands ' NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Leeuwarden, Netherlands; Centre for Internationalisation of Education (Campus Fryslân), University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands ' Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands; Centre for Internationalisation of Education (Campus Fryslân), University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

Abstract: This study explores how international student satisfaction is affected by certain aspects of the learning and living experience, including university reputation, size and proportion of international students, as well as student gender and stage of study. It draws on data from undergraduate international students enrolled in full time, on-site programs at 32 universities located in the UK that administered the International Student Barometer (ISB) in Fall 2017 (N = 11,652). Multi-level linear regression revealed that international student satisfaction was predicted by stage of study, the reputation of the university and the proportion of international students enrolled. Comments from the survey are used to better understand these findings. This study gives institutional leaders insight into what factors influence the international student experience, allowing them to better prepare for the challenges confronting international higher education today.

Keywords: international student; student satisfaction; student experience; rankings; league tables; globalisation; education management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2022.119684

International Journal of Management in Education, 2022 Vol.16 No.1, pp.83 - 101

Received: 23 Jan 2021
Accepted: 10 Apr 2021
Published online: 14 Dec 2021 *

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