CULTURAL AND PERSONAL CHALLANGES THAT AFFECT QATARI STUDENTS IN THE UK: AN INTERCULTURAL INQUIRY INTO ADAPTATION AND BELONGING

Abstract

The ethical and cultural values of international students studying abroad has always been an issue that arises frequently (Anjalin et al., 2017). This paper will look specifically into Qatari undergraduate students that study in the UK and the challenges that they face culturally and personally. With an aim of increasing the number of Qatari students seeking higher education in the UK and Ireland (QNA, 2024), this study is vital for students as it allows them to recognize the challenges that they may overcome if not considered, in addition to the intercultural elements that they need to adapt to integrate successfully into a new environment . Mehra (2023) elaborates on how some challenges can hinder the ability of individuals adapting into a new culture which would lead to criticism of the host country and their culture. This paper is significant because of the lack of study available on Qatari students specifically and Arab students in general, therefore, conducting the research can serve as a base understanding to some of those concerns and experiences that are unique to Qatari students in the UK. The paper will aim at investigating three main research questions: What are the cultural and personal challenges that Qatari undergraduate students face in the UK? What are the resources available for undergrad Qatari students to help them navigate these challenges? Additionally, the theoretical frameworks can be applied to help eliminate these challenges. This thesis will examine two theories, Byram’s theory of intercultural competence (Byram, 2020) and Berry’s Acculturation theory (Berry, 1992). These theories will examine the different cultural norms that can explain certain behaviours and characteristic that students may exhibit, therefore allowing for a better understanding of their cultures and ways in which their experiences abroad can be shaped because of it. This study will use a mixed study specifically; a case study approach grounded in data collection and interviews.

Date of Award	2026
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Humanities and Social Science