Abstract
Research on international students' study experiences has placed a strong emphasis on the host countries in Western contexts. This study responded to a need for qualitative research on Western and Asian international students' experiences of their new cultural environment. Drawing upon the U-curve model and psychological contract, this study investigated the challenges and coping of international master’s degree students at two universities in Taiwan. We addressed two research questions: How do international students studying in Taiwan reflect on their experiences of the U-curve process? How do international students studying in Taiwan explain the role of the psychological contract in their experiences of the U-curve process? Our results aligned with the U-curve theory, that students encounter distinct stages during cultural adjustment. There was some evidence that showed a new stage, pre-arrival stage, can be a critical stage in cultural adjustment process.