Email this article 
Academic Adaptation: The Experience of Malay Muslim Postgraduate Students (Adaptasi Akademik: Pengalaman Pelajar Pascasiswazah Melayu Muslim)
Abstract
This qualitative study aimed to explore the academic experiences and coping strategies among Malay Muslim postgraduate
students in Australia. The research participants were thirteen Malaysian Malay Muslim postgraduate students (9 females,
4 males) studying in a university in South Australia. They were either undergoing their Master or PhD degrees. The
findings show that as international students, the Malaysian Malay Muslim postgraduate students had difficulties adjusting
themselves to their new learning culture. In order to cope with the situation, they became active learners in academic
areas, made changes and sought assistance in their daily lives through their spouse, other Malaysian friends or university
colleagues. Maintaining faith was also frequently mentioned as one of their coping strategies.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Abdullah, A. 1996. Going Glocal: Cultural Dimensions in
Malaysian Management: PlACE??: Malaysian institute
of Management.
AbS, A.b.o.S. 2007. International Students in Australia.
http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/
E07209141CE61fCA25732f001C9b8d/$file/41020_
international%20students%20in%20Australia_2007.pdf.
Retrieved 31 March 2007.
AEi, A.E.i. 2014. International Student Data for 2009. https://
aei.gov.au/research/international-Student data/documents/
Monthly%20summaries%20of%20international%20stude
nt%20enrolment%20data%202012/12_december_2012_
MonthlySummary.pdf. Retrieved 18 March, 2014
Atlas of Student Mobility: united Kingdom. 2009. http://www.
atlas.iienetwork.org/?p=48047. Retrieved 4 december
barker, M., Child, C., Gallois, C., Jones, E. & Callan, V.J. 1991.
Difficulties of overseas students in social and academic
situations. Australian Journal of Psychology 43(2): 79-84.
beach, S.R.h., Martin, J., blum, T. & Roman, P. 1993. Effects
of marital and co-worker relationship on negative affect:
Testing the central role of marriage. American Journal of
Family Therapy 21: 213-322.
bostik, K. & Everall, R. 2007. healing from suicide: adolescent
perceptions of attachment relationships. British Journal of
Guidance and Counselling 35(1): 79-96.
braun, V. & Clarke, V. 2006. using thematic analysis in
psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology 3(2):
-101.
Charles, h. & Stewart, M.A. 1991. Academic Advising of
international Students. Journal of Multicultural Counseling
and Development 19(4): 173-181.
Cigularova, d.K. 2005. Psychosocial Adjustment of international
Students. Colorado State University Journal of Student
Affairs: 14.
Granqvist, P. & Kirkpatrick, l.A. 2008. Attachment and religious
representations and behavior. Handbook of Attachment
Theory and Research: 906-933.
harman, G. 2003. international Phd students in Australian
universities: financial support, course experience and career
plans. International Journal of Educational Development
(3): 339-351.
haydon, l. 2003. Meeting the Needs of International Students
at Dominican University of California. PlACE??
PubliShER??
hayes, R.l. & lin, h.R. 1994. Coming to America: developing
social support systems for international students. Journal of
Multicultural Counseling and Development 22: 7-7.
Katz, J., Monnier, J., beach, S.R.h., libet, J. & Shaw, d. 2000.
individual and crossover effects of stress on adjustment in
medical student marriages. Journal of Marital and Family
Therapy 26(3): 341-352.
Khawaja, n.G. & dempsey, J. 2007. Psychological distress
in international university students: An Australian study.
Australian Journal of Guidance and Counseling 17(1):
-27.
lin, J.C.G. & Yi, J.K. 1997. Asian international students’
adjustment: issues and program suggestions. Journal of
Multicultural Counseling and Development 19: 173-181.
novera, i.A. 2004. indonesian postgraduate student studying
in Australia: An examination of their academic, social and
cultural differences. International Education Journal 5(4):
-487.
oropeza, b.A.C., fitzgibbon, M. & Augustine baron, J.
Managing mental health crises of foreign college
students. Journal of Counselling Development 69: PAGE
nuMbER???
Pedersen, P.b. 1991. Counseling international students. The
Counselling Psychologist 19: 10-58.
Poyrazli, S., Arbona, C., bullington, R. & Pisecco, S. 2001.
Adjustment issues of Turkish college students studying in
the united States. College Student Journal 35(1): 52-62.
Poyrazli, S. & Kavanaugh, P.R. 2006. Marital status, ethnicity,
academic achievement, and adjustment strains: the case of
graduate international students. College Student Journal
(4): 767-780.
Ramburuth, P. 2001. Language diversity and the first-year
experience: implications for academic achievement and
language skills acquisition. Journal of the First-Year
Experience & Students in Transition 13(2): 75-93.
Rowatt, W.C. & Kirkpatrick, l.A. 2002. Two dimensions of
attachment to God and their relation to affect, religiosity,
and personality constructs. Journal for the Scientific Study
of Religion 41(4): 637-651.
Ryan, M.E. & Twibell, R.S. 2000. Concerns, values, stress,
coping, health and educational outcomes of college students
who studied abroad. International Journal of Intercultural
Relations 24(4): 409-435.
Selvadurai, R. 1992. problems faced by international students
in american colleges and universities. Community Review
VoluME? PAGE nuMbER?
Sim, T.n. & loh, b.S.M. 2003. Attachment to God: Measurement
and dynamics. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
(3): 373.
Academic Adaptation: The Experience of Malay Muslim Postgraduate Students
uS, i.S.i.t. 2009. International Students on US Campuses at
All-time High. http://opendoors.iienetwork.org/?p=131590.
Retrieved 29 december, 2009.
Wang, J. 2003. A Study of the Adjustment of International
Graduate Students At American Universities, Including Both
Resilience Characteristics and Traditional Backgrounds
Factors.The florida State u., US.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License