Financial Stress and Adjustment of International Students in Kazakhstan: A Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

This study explored the financial stress and adjustment strategies of international students in an English Medium Instruction (EMI) university located in Kazakhstan. It addressed the urgent need for an inclusive financial system for the growing number of international students in Kazakhstan by employing an explanatory sequential mixed design, capturing the unique experiences of the participants engaged in the study. The study recruited 107 participants during the quantitative phase of the study and recruited 11 participants for interviews using purposive sampling. The findings revealed that while the level of financial stress was generally low, a high degree of variability was found among participants. Particularly, participants from low socioeconomic backgrounds experienced the most financial stress. Financial stress in this study emanated from conditions within the country, institutions, and individual. Country-level factors such as the cost of living, employment restrictions, and visa challenges posed the greatest risk with research expenses and accommodation cost emerging as the institutional factors that contributed to their financial distress. Individual factors such as regular remittances to family members, particularly, increased the financial stress of male participants. However, participants received immense support, such as scholarships, reverse remittances, on-campus employment, and flexible accommodation payments, which helped them alleviate their financial stress. The findings of this study are crucial to the Kazakhstani government, students, and institutions in making Kazakhstan an attractive hub for international students. It is also integral in contributing to the emerging discussion on international students’ adjustment in the context of Kazakhstan and beyond.