Identifying Friction Points in the Student Journey: Findings from the International Student Barometer

International students who took part in the International Student Barometer (ISB) are surveyed on four main aspects of their experience: Arrival, Learning, Living, and Support. This report focuses on identifying the lowest-scoring areas in each category globally, pinpointing key challenges and suggesting areas for improvement. By highlighting these friction points, the report aims to deepen understanding of the specific difficulties faced by international students worldwide. 

The first section addresses students’ arrival experiences. Among all arrival elements, satisfaction with welcome and pickup services (airport, railway, or coach station) scored the lowest, with 79% of international students reporting satisfaction. While this marks a slight improvement from previous years, it remains a persistent challenge, with scores of 76% in 2023 and 75% in 2022. Many students shared experiences highlighting this issue—for example, one student commented, “I wasn’t picked up from the airport, train station or bus station. I was so confused and was asking people who were not welcoming questions.” Since many international students endure long and stressful journeys before arrival, a well-coordinated, simple, and warm welcome is especially important. A positive first interaction can significantly ease the transition and help set the tone for a successful start to their academic life. 

The Learning section explores students’ academic experiences. The lowest-scoring element here was “Opportunities for work experience / work placements as part of my studies,” with only 75% satisfaction in 2024—unchanged from 2023 and slightly higher than 74% in 2022. One student noted, “As an international student, I receive theoretical learning from the college. However, when it comes to internships and practical experience, the college does not provide assistance. Students are responsible for finding their own training placements, but many lack the necessary network to do so effectively”. For international students, access to relevant work experience is crucial for applying learning in real-world settings, improving employability, and enhancing career readiness. Expanding these opportunities could greatly increase the academic value and long-term impact of their studies. 

In the Living section, the process of finding accommodation upon arrival scored the lowest satisfaction at 49%, while accommodation cost also scored low, with just 56% satisfied. These challenges can cause significant stress, as difficulties in securing affordable and suitable housing shortly after arrival can affect financial wellbeing, stability, and overall comfort. One student commented, “There definitely should be more student accommodation and assistance with finding accommodation”. These challenges can delay students’ adjustment and make it harder for them to concentrate on their studies, highlighting the need for improved institutional support during this critical transition. Notably 16% of students did not organise accommodation before arriving, indicating a need for stronger pre-arrival support to help international students secure affordable, appropriate housing and ensure a smoother transition into life abroad. 

In the final section, Support, the accommodation office received the lowest satisfaction score at 86% in 2024, up from 82% in 2023 and 81% in 2022. This is closely linked to the concerns in the Living section around finding accommodation and housing costs. While the accommodation office plays a vital role in helping students navigate these challenges and satisfaction remains relatively high, the lower score compared to the 93% average for other support areas indicates room for improvement in supporting international students to secure affordable, suitable housing and ease their transition into life abroad. 

Overall, although satisfaction scores have improved across all sections compared to previous years, key friction points remain. Challenges related to arrival welcome services, access to work experience, and accommodation—both in finding housing and managing costs—continue to impact the international student experience. These findings reflect globally aggregated scores, and while there is regional variation, many institutions are actively addressing such friction points by analysing their ISB data and collaborating across teams to implement targeted solutions. Strengthening support in these areas will be essential to enhancing students’ well-being, academic success, and overall transition, ensuring a more positive and fulfilling journey for international students worldwide. 

*The international Student Barometer collected responses from 106,427 international students. Fieldwork took place across two waves globally, March to June and September to December 2024.  

Author: Amelia Brown