In their own words: a comparative study of the experiences of Black African Home and Black African International students at a British university

This thesis examines Black African Home and Black African International students' experiences from their perspectives and in their own voices. This thesis draws on both semi-structured qualitative interviews and a critical discourse analysis method to examine how the students’ experiences are understood. The first chapter explores variations in self-described ethnic identity within the Black African student subgroup, highlighting the complexity of identity formation and the interconnectedness between ethnic identity and sense of belonging. The second chapter identified the different attitudes to formal and informal support structures, with International students being heavily reliant on the support of their peers. Chapter 3 reveals the suboptimality of current survey instruments in capturing the nuanced realities of Black African Home and Black African International students. This thesis contributes to the understanding of the intricate challenges of Black African students’ ethnic identity and their barriers to belonging in a British university. It provides further insight into the importance of disaggregating student experiences and tailoring interventions to specific student groups and their unique challenges.