The document summarizes a publication that shares the experiences of 7 international postgraduate students studying social sciences in the UK. The publication aims to understand what it is like for international students to study social sciences in the UK from their perspective. Each case study describes why the student chose to share their experience and discusses their learning, teaching, assessment issues and challenges they faced as an international student. Common themes across the cases included resilience and valuing the whole learning experience as a process rather than just the final grade. The document suggests the publication would be of interest to higher education institutions, current and prospective international students, and students who have completed their studies.

1. ‘ BEEN THERE, DONE THAT’: CASE STUDIES OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS STUDYING SOCIAL SCIENCES IN THE UK Tung Suen University of Oxford

2. BACKGROUND Part of the ‘Teaching International Students’ project Co-funded by: the Higher Education Academy and the second phase of the Prime Minister’s Initiative (PMI2)

3. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES 33,620 international students studied social studies in the UK in 2009-2010 (UK Council for International Student Affairs) 16% of the students studying the classified subject were international students

4. THE PUBLICATION Aims to the ask: What is it like for an international student to study social sciences in the UK? Includes the stories of 7 postgraduate students from Brazil, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico and the Philippines Written by the students themselves with minimal editing, anonymised Does not claim to be representative of all international students’ experiences

5. STRUCTURE OF EACH CASE STUDY About the student Why I want to tell other students and academic staff about my experience as an international student A short description of my experience The main learning, teaching, assessment issues I would like to discuss The main issues I faced as a student What I think about the challenges I faced The key messages I would like to give to other students and to staff

6. ACTIVE LEARNERS WHO CONSTANTLY REFLECT ON THEIR LEARNING EXPERIENCE

7. SHEDDING LIGHT ON HOW TO PROVIDE BETTER SUPPORT

8. COMMON THEMES Resilience Fear and challenges faced may not be unique The international students realised that their learning should not be judged only as a product in the end with just an overall mark or an average grade. Instead, they valued the whole experience as a process.

9. OF POSSIBLE INTEREST TO… Higher education institution and staff International students who are embarking on their journey International students who are considering UK as a destination for studying social sciences International students who have already finished their journey and either stay in the UK or return home

10. L INKS THAT INTERNATIONAL (AND LOCAL) STUDENTS STUDYING SOCIAL SCIENCES IN THE UK MAY FIND USEFUL

11. T O OBTAIN THE PUBLICATION Laura-Jayne Harvey of C-SAP Available online, downloadable for free: http:// www.lulu.com/product/ebook/case-studies-of-international-students-studying-social-sciences-in-the-uk/18170703 Tung Suen: [email_address]