Uniquely othered and distinctly authored: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experiences of voluntary migrants living in London and the South East of England

Literature suggests that home, identity, and belonging are important concerns that help understand migrant wellbeing. However, the lived experiences of voluntary highly skilled migrants, a distinct population in the UK usually including educated graduates of universities, who enjoy higher socio-economic privileges, are under researched. The objective of the study is to investigate the lived experiences of this population via semi-structured online interviews. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyse the migrants’ idiographic experiences. The resulting themes elucidated the unique quality of each participant’s meaning-making process of their identity, place in the country, freedom, and the changes they all continually experienced; issues of liminal change and self-actualisation were particularly pronounced. This research raises awareness of the unique experiences of voluntary highly skilled migrants and their demographic’s goals and needs, which enriches migrant discourse and towards potentially aiding mental health policies and related support for diaspora.