In 2021, the School of Psychology experienced a sharp increase in the number of international students enrolling for taught Masters programmes. As the first semester progressed, it became clear that many of the students were not sufficiently familiar with or adapted to UK academic systems and norms, digital technologies, and sometimes even the basic psychological knowledge needed to enable them to engage successfully with their studies. This was evidenced by a number of assessment fails and suspected incidents of plagiarism in the first semester amongst those international PGT students.
The School saw urgent need to take prompt action and so created the role of International PGT Tutor (INTPGT) to provide the targeted help to support these students, and enable further development of strategies to mitigate such outcomes in the future.
The INTPGT Tutor role is directed towards overseeing that no international PGT student gets ‘left behind’ with their studies, that they are equipped to successfully engage with the learning environment and understand how to access all the resources and support available to them.
Students coming from overseas to further their education in the UK often face multiple challenges, including ‘culture shock’; language barriers; colder climate; unfamiliar academic systems; different ways of communicating; accommodation issues; managing limited finances; working and looking after their relocated family – all while studying. This means that international students on a one-year Masters programmes may find it more challenging to adjust and manage their learning and programme of studies than home students.
While the School, College, and University already have in place resources and support services for all students, alongside dedicated provision for international students (e.g., International College) the challenge addressed was very much around ensuring how international PGT students are fully aware of, and confident to access, all the resources and support available in order to take advantage of them in a timely manner to meet their individual needs, and from the outset be able to engage with their programme of studies.
The INTPGT tutor is intended to be a friendly face and guiding hand that provides an initial point of contact prior to enrolment and arriving in Lincoln, and ongoing support throughout their degree programme. The INTPGT tutor also helps to ‘troubleshoot’ individual international students’ needs, which provides additional support to Programme Leads and school staff.
Current provision to those in the School of Psychology includes:
- Pre-sessional Webinar for firm offer holders to outline recommended pre-arrival preparation, Welcome Week activities, and introduce students to studying in the School of Psychology.
- Three INTPGT tutorials each semester. Content is part ‘subject matter’ – focusing on topics that are the most challenging for the current cohort of international students based on their feedback (e.g., understanding assessments, learning outcomes, academic writing, plagiarism, doing research), and partly an opportunity for international students to come together and share ideas and discuss any concerns they might have.
- A dedicated BlackBoard site to communicate with INTPGT students, sharing resources and information in a targeted way to enhance and emphasise what is already provided by Programme Leads, the School and University. In addition, sharing relevant information about social and community events.
- Weekly online ‘drop-in’ office hour giving students the opportunity to ask for help or get their questions answered, or even just have a chat with someone.
Students engaging in this support were polled in Semester A and again in Semester B to assess their confidence with various aspects of their learning. Results from this showed that students’ confidence had increased in academic writing, stats, and literature searches, although not in carrying out research or how confident they felt in their studies overall. This feedback has been really helpful in identifying and suggesting where there is room for further improvement of this provision. Students also responded that they found the INTPGT provision and Tutor to be very helpful.