Self-funded international PhD students bring substantial financial returns to universities, but they are often placed in a precarious position, caught between different identities and experiencing struggles that are peculiar to international students – liability for fees, which sometimes have to be raised during their study; visa restrictions that affect employability; and the solitary journey of their doctoral study. It is, therefore, important to recognise their unique positioning and understand how their experiences are being shaped and can be improved. Using qualitative data obtained through semi-structured interviews with 26 self-funded international PhD students in UK business schools, the analysis identified variations in experiences based on gender, marital status, and university group as significant to self-funded PhD students' experiences. The study also adopted the theory of student persistence and the multidimensional value-based approach to identify the role of university administrative systems, supervisors, fellow PhD students, social networks, families, and self-funded PhD students as key stakeholders shaping students’ learning experiences and maintaining their engagement, influencing completion rates, and affecting post-graduation outcomes. This study extended the existing knowledge on international student experiences and doctoral education, presenting vital implications for a range of stakeholders, including universities, post-graduate and business schools, academic and professional bodies, supervisors, and policymakers.
