# The academic adaptation of Southeast Asian international students in Chinese universities

**Authors:** Ling Shen, Ailing Luo

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1639640 · 2025-10-09

## TL;DR

This study explores how Southeast Asian students adapt academically in Chinese universities and identifies factors that influence their success.

## Contribution

The study identifies key factors influencing academic adaptation and proposes strategies to improve it for international students.

## Key findings

- Southeast Asian students show moderate academic adaptation in Chinese universities.
- Factors like language proficiency and psychological state significantly affect adaptation.
- Improving teaching facilities and peer support can enhance academic adaptation.

## Abstract

Employing questionnaire surveys and interviews, it has been determined that Southeast Asian students generally exhibit a moderate degree of academic adaptation. They are well - adapted in terms of instructional quality, learning capabilities, school governance, educational milieu, social interactions, and Chinese language proficiency. Factors including adaptation, nationality, student status, Chinese language competence, psychological state, learning attitudes, approaches, motivation, and abilities are of significance. Instructional quality, educational environment, school governance, and social relationships also play a role in the academic adaptation of international students. Consequently, the academic adaptation of international students can be enhanced by offering specialized psychological counseling services, establishing peer support systems, strictly implementing language proficiency evaluations, upgrading teaching facilities, and strengthening the management of international students.

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** Disparities in language proficiency (MESH:D011019), mental health deterioration (OMIM:603663), anxiety (MESH:D001007), psychological (MESH:D000067073), depressive tendencies (MESH:C536965), depression (MESH:D003866)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12546129