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Living in Social Isolation and Uncertainty - Experiences of International and Domestic Higher Education Students in the U.S. during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Stolten, Alina LU (2020) SIMV10 20201
Graduate School
Master of Science in Global Studies
Abstract (Swedish)
This thesis explores the experiences of international and domestic higher education students in the U.S. during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. By using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach the aim of the thesis, in the first place, is concerned with students’ experience during national and global lockdowns with social distancing and isolation and, secondly, with the structural challenges they are facing during this worldwide pandemic.
The methodological approach consists of semi-structured online interviews. In April 2020, interviews with 12 students from 11 countries were conducted. The participants were all degree students at U.S. universities and neither of the students went back to their home country.
Overall, the... (More)
This thesis explores the experiences of international and domestic higher education students in the U.S. during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. By using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach the aim of the thesis, in the first place, is concerned with students’ experience during national and global lockdowns with social distancing and isolation and, secondly, with the structural challenges they are facing during this worldwide pandemic.
The methodological approach consists of semi-structured online interviews. In April 2020, interviews with 12 students from 11 countries were conducted. The participants were all degree students at U.S. universities and neither of the students went back to their home country.
Overall, the findings show that the majority of students struggle with being socially distant, however the reasons for experiencing closed campuses and isolation as difficult vary from student to student. A lack of structure in everyday life, the need of campus facilities or the phase in the studies influence the students’ mental well-being. Further, international students are challenged with health care, unemployment and being not allowed to work off-campus, inability to fly home, racism and xenophobia as well as uncertainties regarding their visa and housing. (Less)
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author
Stolten, Alina LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMV10 20201
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
International students, COVID-19, Social distancing, Social isolation, Structural challenges
language
English
id
9029384
date added to LUP
2020-10-05 10:50:49
date last changed
2020-10-05 10:50:49
@misc{9029384,
  abstract     = {{This thesis explores the experiences of international and domestic higher education students in the U.S. during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. By using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach the aim of the thesis, in the first place, is concerned with students’ experience during national and global lockdowns with social distancing and isolation and, secondly, with the structural challenges they are facing during this worldwide pandemic.
The methodological approach consists of semi-structured online interviews. In April 2020, interviews with 12 students from 11 countries were conducted. The participants were all degree students at U.S. universities and neither of the students went back to their home country.
Overall, the findings show that the majority of students struggle with being socially distant, however the reasons for experiencing closed campuses and isolation as difficult vary from student to student. A lack of structure in everyday life, the need of campus facilities or the phase in the studies influence the students’ mental well-being. Further, international students are challenged with health care, unemployment and being not allowed to work off-campus, inability to fly home, racism and xenophobia as well as uncertainties regarding their visa and housing.}},
  author       = {{Stolten, Alina}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Living in Social Isolation and Uncertainty - Experiences of International and Domestic Higher Education Students in the U.S. during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}