Financial Strategies Among International Graduate Students in Higher Education

• In Event: Thoughts on international education

Abstract

This qualitative case study explores the financial coping strategies of international graduate students at a large Midwestern university, employing Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a theoretical framework to analyze how financial stress impacts their academic and personal well-being. Using an interpretivist paradigm and intrinsic case study design, the study examines how students allocate stipends, supplement income, and navigate financial hardship while adhering to visa regulations. Findings reveal the adaptive strategies students employ, including budgeting, seeking additional work, and relying on community support, while also highlighting the consequences of financial strain on academic performance and mental health. These findings contribute to the literature on international student experiences and offer recommendations for institutional and policy interventions to better support international students.

Authors

• Bismark Wiafe Bimpong, Ohio University

• Ebenezer Takyi-Wadieh, Ohio University

• Ebenezer Agorsor, Ohio University