After six decades: Applying the U-curve hypothesis to the adjustment of international postgraduate students

Abstract

The research described in this article concludes that the widely cited U-curve hypothesis is no longer supported by research data because the adjustment of international postgraduate students is a complex phenomenon that does not fit easily with attempts to define and categorize it. Methodological issues, different internal and external factors, cultural expectations, individual responses or attitudes, and global developments are also discussed as aspects associated with the improper application of the U-curve hypothesis. This research adds to theoretical understanding associated with the adjustment of international students and, in practical terms, increases our current knowledge regarding student recruitment and international student support services.