Exploring belonging of non-local university students in Hong Kong: language practices, social experiences, and agentic strategies

Abstract The sense of belonging is one of the vital conditions for non-local students’ positive academic and social experiences. Despite extensive research in Hong Kong, studies remain fragmented, focusing on isolated student groups rather than offering comparative insights with global relevance. This study addresses this gap through a meta-ethnographic review of 25 qualitative and mixed-methods studies. Using trans-epistemologies, it shows how Hong Kong’s triadic linguistic ecology sustains hierarchies of legitimacy and belonging. Non-local students navigate stereotypes, racialized perceptions, and pedagogical misalignments, while asserting agency through multilingual adaptation, leadership, cultural ambassadorship, and resource use. The proposed three-layer model of belonging offers actionable implications for institutional policy and research, providing a framework for Hong Kong and beyond.