Be Our (Uninvited) Guest. Experiences and Challenges of International Doctoral Students in the Czech Republic

Abstract

While extensive research addresses the working conditions of international Ph.D. students in Western countries, only little explores their experiences within Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. CEE countries favour masculine values, hierarchical structures and conservatism, and English does not serve as a primary language in both academic and non-academic contexts. This study, involving seventeen international Ph.D. students in the Czech Republic, aimed to elucidate their experiences through in-depth phenomenological interviews. Inductive analysis uncovered common challenges of international Ph.D. students, including language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, discrimination by university staff and gender biases. Participants also highlighted gaps in support and unclear career prospects, which contributed to increased uncertainty. To remain resilient, the participants emphasised the need for self-care, intrinsic motivation and self-regulation. The study suggests that enhancing university language access, equity policies, mental health services and career development programming could dramatically improve inclusiveness.