Being an International Student in Turkey During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

This study aims at identifying the experiences of international students from different countries studying at Turkish universities during the COVID-19 pandemic.A phenomenological qualitative study was designed accordingly. The sample consists of 20 international students selected using the maximum variation sampling technique. An interview form prepared by the researchers to determine the experiences of international studentsduring the COVID-19 pandemic was used to collect data.The data were collected through online interviews (Zoom) conducted with the participants. Content analysiswas applied to the data. MAXQDA 2020 software package was used for content analysis. The obtained results revealed that related to the pandemic, international students in Turkey had some positive and negative experiences in their social life, communication with acquaintances, psychological condition, education, and travel.