Coping strategies and challenges among international married postgraduate students in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Abstract

There have been numerous researches on international students’ experiences and challenges at Malaysian universities. However, there has been lack of research on the experiences and challenges of married international postgraduate students at Malaysian universities. Therefore, this study explored the experiences and challenges faced by international married postgraduate students during first year of studying in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. This study investigated their experiences, challenges, effects of the challenges on their academic performance and also their coping strategies. Qualitative research approach and phenomenological design were adopted, and data were collected using semi structured individual interview. The interview data were analysed using thematic analysis. The data showed that international married students and their spouses encountered different types of experiences and faced numerous challenges during their first year of studies. The experiences and challenges were related to children, health care, accommodation, climate and food. As a result, ultimately these challenges affected their academic performance. In addition, the themes on coping strategies were time management, family and social support.