Beyond aspirations

A qualitative study of the structural and procedural challenges faced by international doctoral applicants

Authors

  • Srinivas Sulugodu Ramachandra College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, UAE
  • Shelly Arora IMU University, Malaysia
  • Vinaytosh Mishra Thumbay College of Management and AI in Healthcare, Gulf Medical University, UAE
  • Nithin Manchery QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute & University of Queensland, Australia
  • Vijay Kumar Quest International University, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/3qnmrx55

Abstract

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.

Author Biographies

  • Srinivas Sulugodu Ramachandra, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, UAE

    Srinivas Sulugodu Ramachandra, PhD, is an assistant professor at the College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah. His research interests include the staging and grading of periodontitis, graduate education, dental education, and clinical trials focusing on adjunctive periodontal therapies. ORCID: 0000-0001-9665-5092

  • Shelly Arora, IMU University, Malaysia

     

    Shelly Arora, PhD, is an oral pathologist with interests in dental pulp inflammation and regeneration, as well as in graduate education, including feedback practices. She is currently pursuing an MSc in Clinical Education while working full-time as a senior lecturer at IMU University, Malaysia. ORCID: 0000-0002-1277-6194

  • Vinaytosh Mishra, Thumbay College of Management and AI in Healthcare, Gulf Medical University, UAE

     

    Vinaytosh Mishra, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Thumbay College of Management and AI in Healthcare, Gulf Medical University. His expertise spans artificial intelligence, large-scale data analytics, and the development of large language models to address complex challenges in healthcare. ORCID: 0000-0002-6360-910X

  • Nithin Manchery, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute & University of Queensland, Australia

    Nithin Manchery, Dr Nithin Manchery, is a Research Coordinator in the Cerebellum and Neurodegeneration Lab at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane and a Research Associate at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne. He has a background in Dental Public Health and is currently responsible for clinical research involving patients with cerebellar ataxias and other neurodegenerative disorders. His research interests include clinical research, patient registries, neurological assessments, and the relationship between oral health and systemic diseases. ORCID: 0000-0002-4319-6125

  • Vijay Kumar, Quest International University, Malaysia

    Vijay Kumar is a Dean of Postgraduate Studies at Quest International University, Malaysia, and a Honorary Professor at the University of Otago, New Zealand. He has led doctoral supervisor development across 45 universities in 23 countries. He was the first UKCGE Recognized Research Supervisor outside the UK and received the Australian Council of Graduate Research’s 2025 Excellence in Graduate Research Programs and Support Award. ORCID: 0000-0002-4016-0178

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Published

2026-11-03

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Vol. 16 No. 19 (2026): Online First - Journal of International Students

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Global Mobility, Policy, and Internationalization

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Copyright (c) 2026 Srinivas Sulugodu Ramachandra, Shelly Arora, Vinaytosh Mishra, Nithin Manchery, Vijay Kumar

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How to Cite

Ramachandra, S. S. ., Arora, S., Mishra, V. ., Manchery, N. ., & Kumar, V. . (2026). Beyond aspirations: A qualitative study of the structural and procedural challenges faced by international doctoral applicants. Journal of International Students, 16(19). https://doi.org/10.32674/3qnmrx55