International direct entry students’ study experiences: Phase 1 project report

Hewish, David; Chelin, Jacqueline; Williams, Morris; Saville, Jane; Collins, Ian; Danes, Rebecca; Comrie, Christine

Abstract

A report from the first phase of a UWE Learning and Teaching Fellowship project investigating the study experiences of international direct entry FBL and FET students during the first few months of their UWE programme. UWE recruit international students through advanced entry agreements which brings students to UWE to complete their undergraduate programme at level two or three. Although international direct entry students have similar transition experiences to students entering university at level one, they have less time to adapt and require additional support (Quan, Smailes and Fraser, 2013).
Literature and other UK University websites were reviewed to provide context for the study. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with international direct entry students from China, Malaysia and Vietnam. The interviews explored student experiences pre-arrival, during the first few weeks of their course, the study environment and the support they had sought and received. Interviewees were asked to offer advice, based on their experiences, to prospective direct entry students and to UWE staff.
The project team offer a series of recommendations along with actions and timescales.

• Report Type: Project Report
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 6, 2019
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: direct entry, international students, Higher Education, student experience
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/814248