Chinese International Students’ Sense of Belonging in North American Postsecondary Institutions: A Critical Literature Review

Abstract

Since 2000, an increasing number of Chinese international students have been entering North American universities, and many have experienced issues with a sense of belonging, which can in turn impact their academic, social performance, and psychological wellbeing. However, there is limited research on this topic that is exclusively focused on Chinese international students. Therefore, in order to establish the direction that future research should take, a thorough literature review has been conducted with the aim of exploring those students’ perceptions and experiences regarding sense of belonging, establishing the factors that shape this phenomenon, and identifying the impact it has on students and institutions.