en تخصصي Special پژوهشي Research <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Source Sans Pro;"><span style="line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-GB">International students often face numerous challenges upon arrival in the host country that can result in culture shock and increased stress. Malaysia is a prominent destination for international students from diverse nations, particularly Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It is actively striving to expand its current market share in the future. The study seeks to investigate the firsthand experiences of a group of Arab PhD students who enrolled in a PhD program at a Malaysian university, particularly to identify the psychological, sociocultural, and educational obstacles they face, determine the factors that contribute to these challenges, and assess the effectiveness of Malaysian higher education institutions in attracting and meeting the needs of international students. The study employs a qualitative, phenomenological research design to understand participant&#39;s lived experiences. It utilizes in-depth, semi-structured interviews and applies Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to analyze the data. The study found eight overarching themes, which included elements that appeal and areas that need improvement. Additionally, it recognized other subthemes. The study advised prioritizing students&#39; perspectives and considering their feedback as a useful resource for enhancing the higher education sector in Malaysia.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"></span></span></span></span></div> International Students, Higher Education, PhD Journey, Arab Students, Malaysia, Phenomenology 8 22 http://johepal.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-680-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Nabeel Al Amiri 10031947532846002216 10031947532846002216 Yes Nursing Department, Tawam Hospital Mohammad Khudari 10031947532846002217 10031947532846002217 No Universiti Tenaga Nasional Faris Daradkeh 10031947532846002218 10031947532846002218 No Fatima College of Health Sciences