Is everywhere I go home? Reflections on the acculturation journey of African international students in China

This qualitative study explores the acculturation journey of African international students in China, focusing on the evolution of their experiences. While previous research has often overlooked the progressive nature of international students, particularly from Africa, this study addresses this gap by examining how these students navigate academic, cultural, and psychological challenges over time. Using a conceptual framework informed by existing acculturation theories, the study identified six key dimensions shaping the acculturation process. Fifteen African international students, aged 25–36 years, with lengths of stay ranging from 4 to 7 years, were selected from three research-intensive universities in China. The findings reveal that early acculturation stress, including challenges like language barriers and culture shock, significantly impacts these students’ psychological well-being and makes securing internships more difficult. However, students who accessed strong peer networks and received supervisor support demonstrated better coping strategies and higher satisfaction by their final year. This study shows that acculturation is a dynamic process and suggests that educational institutions should improve support systems to better support the well-being and academic success of international students. • International students experience a unique acculturation process distinct from different populations such as immigrants or long-term expatriates. • Supervisor support, collaborative work, language acquisition, and educational resources contribute to academic growth and personal satisfaction in the overall acculturation of international students. • International students encountered challenges such as language barriers, culture shock, and perceived discrimination which were exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. • Awareness campaigns and cultural training initiatives are effective strategies for (African) international students to overcome cultural shock. • Working hours or part-time jobs for international students with financial constraints can expedite their acculturation.