A Study on the Experiences of International Students Living With Chronic Illnesses in US Higher Education Institutions

There is growing population of college students with chronic illnesses in many higher education institutions in the United States. These students are battling their health conditions as they also maneuver their experiences on campus. Another growing population of students are international students and some of them also have chronic illness, some diagnosed even before they get to the US and others diagnosed during their time in the country. They too face different challenges concerning their health; however, they are saddled with navigating their health in a foreign country where everything is different from what they are used to. This paper discusses the experiences of international students in the US who are navigating their health and their academics. The paper focuses on international students who have studied in a US higher education system, and they share their experiences on how they have navigated their health issues and balancing their program of study. In addition, they also highlight their challenges and how they have overcome them as well as the forms of support they have utilized during their time in the US.