Visible but invisible: Chinese international students’ experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and academic institutions’ support

This study applies the hermeneutical phenomenological approach, guided by Critical Race Theory, to explicate a nuanced understanding of the way Chinese international students’ racial identity shapes the challenges that they faced during the pandemic and their experience of academic institutions’ support during this time. The current study highlights the pervasive anti-Asian racism that directly and indirectly contributed to Chinese international students’ negative experiences studying in Canada during the pandemic. The findings also highlight the lack of support from academic institutions, despite the rising anti-Asian racism faced by this group of students. Furthermore, this study calls attention to the consideration of race in developing support programs for racialized international students. Recommendations for universities to better support international students (Chinese or otherwise) are developed.