Understanding the Chinese international student experiences, expectations, challenges, and support interventions in UK higher education:

The number of Chinese international students at universities in the UK has soared in recent years (HESA, 2023), making it essential to understand their experiences abroad and address the challenges they face. This literature review focuses on the experiences of Chinese international students in the UK by exploring three main aspects: (1) their expectations, (2) challenges, and (3) targeted interventions by higher education institutes. The aim is to understand, empathise with, and improve the overall experience of Chinese international students in the UK. This literature review indicates that students’ expectations and challenges are mainly interconnected in terms of academic success, career prospects, and personal growth. Universities in the UK provide academic, psychological, and career support to address these challenges according to students’ needs. However, several gaps remain, particularly regarding the nuanced impacts of racism, individual personality traits, and gender differences on Chinese students’ experiences, which can be looked into to further improve the learning and living experiences of Chinese international students in the UK and other English-speaking Western countries.