International Students in Norway: Satisfaction, Coping and Social Networks

Abstract

In this paper we consider the experiences of international students studying in Norway, analysing data from more than 5,000 survey respondents. Variations according to students’ region of origin and whether they are full degree students or exchange students are the focus. Students report a high level of overall satisfaction, exchange students in particular, and the vast majority of students are content with the quality of teaching. Students from the African continent report being more content than others, despite struggling somewhat more with academic demands and having weaker social networks, something they have in common with Asian students. Multivariate analyses show that type of mobility (full degree cf. exchange), region of origin, coping with academic demands, satisfaction with teaching and interaction with Norwegians are predictors of overall satisfaction with studying in Norway. The patterns observed are assumed to be related to prior experiences and expectations.

Internationalisation Equals Quality? Students’ Perspectives on Quality of Higher Education in Denmark

“…This absence of regular contact between domestic and international students for long-term tasks is reinforced by another recent study in Denmark (Fabricius et al, 2017), which showed that international students were more successful in engaging with other international students. Wiers-Jenssen (2022) explored international students’ satisfaction, coping and social networks while studying in Norway, and their study also showed low social and academic interactions between international and Norwegians students.…”