The Motivation and Research Experiences of International Doctoral Students in China: Navigating the PhD Journey

This book explores the world of international doctoral students in the Chinese higher education system. It delves into their motivations, research experiences, and how they navigate the transitions across borders between their research, personal, and social worlds while pursuing their research in China. The stories, presented in both patterned categories and individual reflexive narratives, illustrate how these students navigate themselves as doctoral researchers in the Chinese context. The stories highlight the opportunities and challenges these international students encounter in their doctoral research in China. While some students progressively become competent, confident, and positive researchers as they smoothly adjust, others struggle with difficult transitions and face challenges in their relationships with Chinese supervisors, peers, and the academic field. Through analyzing international doctoral students' lived experiences and the relevant policies, the authors offer insight into China's position and characteristics in the context of global doctoral education. This book will be of special interest to academics, researchers, student counsellors, university administrators, and policymakers, both in the east and the west. It should also be of interest to international students who are currently pursuing or planning to commence doctoral studies in China.