2016 Annual Conference

This qualitative study explores the experiences, perceptions and coping mechanism of adult Indian international students during graduate program in American universities. Results will help other adult international students and increase university personnel’s intercultural awareness to create feasible academic support, become more attractive to potential future students and improve retention.

In the 2015- 2016 year, India’s international students’ growth increased to a high of 132,888 which is the highest growth of 29.4 % (Institute of International Education, 2015). As the adult international student enrollments increases, it is important for educators and administrators to have a greater understanding of their different life and academic experiences. Perspectives from this study would increase the intercultural awareness of the faculty and university personnel who can infuse the knowledge in their institutional and teaching discourse. Findings can be beneficial to other adult students in similar situations.

The number of international students in U.S. universities had the highest rate of growth in 35 years. India’s growth outplaced China’s in the 2015/16 year, this being the highest growth rate for Indian students (Open Door Report, International Educational Exchange, 2015). The report also found that the international graduate students increased more than undergraduate students, because most of the Indian students were studying at the graduate level. They include the traditional and non-traditional students who have migrated to the United States for work or are spouses of expatriates. This has significant economic and academic impacts contributing more than $30 million to the U. S. economy in 2014, as per the U.S. Department of Commerce. International students also provide domestic students with multicultural interaction, a valuable experience in today’s globalized world. There are very few studies on Indian international students with no demarcation of the Indian international student as traditional or non-traditional. But, there is a difference between the young international Indian student who has migrated exclusively for the purpose of higher education and the adult Indian international student who has to balance multiple roles in their life, and is expatriates or their spouses.