Beyond aspirations

This research investigated the challenges encountered by international doctoral applicants (IDAs) during the PhD application process at a research-intensive university (RIU). Following ethics approval, this qualitative study drew on the experiences of 68 IDAs via questionnaires and 26 semi-structured interviews. Grounded in Bourdieu’s capital theory, the unequal distribution of economic, social, cultural, and symbolic capital, and how variations in access to these capitals influence IDAs’ application experience were analyzed. Four key themes were constructed: i) challenges during enrollment in PhDs and identifying suitable supervisors, ii) challenges in making applications unique and inconsistent within the application system, iii) cultural or language challenges, and iv) digital and emotional challenges in doctoral interviews. Mature IDAs experienced balancing financial stability against passion for research and effective time management as challenges. Among the cultural disparities, perceptions of favoritism in domestic universities led IDAs to seek merit-based opportunities abroad. Overall, this paper highlights the diverse challenges faced by IDAs and offers insights for universities seeking to develop more inclusive and equitable PhD admission processes.