From challenges to growth: a case study of Chinese international doctoral students in Lithuania

This case study explores the concerns and challenges of Chinese international doctoral students (CIDS) in Education in Lithuania. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with sixteen doctoral students and processed using thematic analysis, which revealed two main themes, each with two subthemes: (1) concerns and challenges (limited academic English proficiency, a lack of academic writing practice) and (2) academic and personal growth (sufficient support from the supervisor, experiencing growth). The results indicate that inadequate proficiency in academic English and a lack of academic writing practice are persistent challenges that impact the performance and doctoral success of CIDS. The findings also highlight the importance of doctoral supervisor’s support and provide deeper insights into the academic acculturation of Chinese-background students. This study contributes to a limited body of research on CIDS experiences in doctoral studies in Lithuania, and the results of this study may contribute to the development of doctoral education and supervision practices.