Exploring the acculturation of international graduate students

This qualitative case study investigates international graduate students’ acculturation inthe U.S., drawing on Núñez’s (2014) multilevel model of intersectionality as the theoretical framework. Fourteen international graduate students at a Midwestern university in the U.S. completed a Qualtrics survey and participated in two rounds of interviews. Using Núñez’s social categories, students were grouped based on their nation of origin, language, cultural background, and acculturation approach. The experiential domain of the model guided the analysis of how students in different groups described their acculturation experiences, including distinct acculturative stressors they encountered in academic and daily life and the various coping strategies they employed. In addition, seven university staff members were interviewed about their perceptions of international graduate students’ acculturation and the services they provided. Observations of two orientation sessions organized by the University were also conducted. These data were analyzed using the organizational, intersubjective, and experiential domains of Núñez’s model to examine how institutional resources and staff support influenced students’ acculturation, revealing both effective practices and structural gaps. This study adapted Núñez’s model to show that students’ reflections on using services revealed not only the value of available services but also structural issues in how they were organized and implemented. Meanwhile, students’ articulation of their needs enabled staff to offer more tailored and responsive support, moving beyond support solely informed by staff perspectives. These findings emphasize the importance of reciprocal understanding in developing effective support systems. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on international graduate student acculturation and offers implications for practitioners, educators, and researchers aiming to enhance support for international students.