Exploring the Academic, Residential and Social Experiences of Donor-Funded International Postgraduate Students at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana

Abstract

International students have an undeniable effect on the higher education landscape worldwide, from social, cultural, economic and political strategies to higher education efforts to focus on and improve students’ experience. However, the focus of this study is on the academic, residential, and social encounter of international students.  Using a descriptive survey, 30 international donor-funded postgraduate students at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana were given questionnaires to complete. Students reported various experiences ranging from academic, residential, and social as they pursue their studies in the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.  Additionally, responses from students indicated that students focus on both academic (i.e. performance in written assignments, mathematical skill courses, course information, etc.) and non-academic aspects of their experiences (i.e. social interactions, friendships, travel, clubs and societies, etc.) when reflecting on their international experiences with staff and students. These students had a lot of success in terms of integrating or adjusting to academic, residential and social matters at the University of Cape Coast, which is an indication that University of Cape Coast has a good environment that supports international postgraduate studies. These were exhibited in these students’ involvement in campus activities, integration and adoption into Ghanaian culture and society, academically performing well in written assignments, performing well in mathematical skills courses, students’ understanding in information presented in courses of their study programmes. However, the flight cost to and from their country of origin was a challenge to these students as this was not covered by the scholarship package of the international students. The recommendation is that, in future scholarships to international postgraduate students, the flight cost to and from the country of origin for some number of trips should be added to the scholarship package to ease the burden of these students.

Keywords: experiences, donor-funded, international, postgraduate students

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/16-9-15

Publication date:August 31^st 2025