Students’ experiences of internationalised MSc programmes in Denmark

Abstract

It is often assumed that the simple presence of international students and ubiquitous use of English as a medium of instruction (EMI) are the main agents of internationalisation of higher education (HE), whereby English equals international education and inbound student mobility equals increased internationalisation. While there are perceived benefits of these two instruments at the institutional and national levels, students’ experiences of internationalisation in a Danish context are under-explored. Using a digital ethnographic enquiry, empirical evidence draws on 126 hours of observation of online teaching and 38 semi-structured interviews with domestic and international students of MSc programmes in Denmark. This article contends that the meaning of internationalisation and self-perceived gains are experienced differently between Danish and international students. The disconnect between discourses and actual experiences of internationalisation reported in this paper highlights the need for further student-centred research to inform institutional policies and practices, challenging long-held views of what ‘international’ means. Internationalisation practices that foster international spaces in which diverse groups of students can engage in meaningful interactions require those working in HE to realign institutional activities with humanistic values for the common good.