1.      Title of Study

An Exploration of Inclusion for International Students in UK universities 

You are invited to participate in this research study for my Doctorate in Education (EdD). Before you decide whether to participate, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully and feel free to ask if you would like more information or if there is anything that you do not understand. Please also feel free to discuss this with your friends or colleagues if you wish. You do not have to accept this invitation and should only agree to take part if you want to.

Please note that the questionnaire is likely to take 30-40 minutes. Participants do not need to answer every question.

Thank you for considering taking part in this study.

2.      What is the purpose of the study?

This is a qualitative study that explores the concept of inclusion international students in United Kingdom universities, taking into consideration the views of UK students, international students, and lecturers in United Kingdom universities. William Salisbury is the main researcher and is conducting the study as part of the UCLan Doctorate in Education programme.  The research is due to be finished before June 2026 at the latest.

Definition of inclusion:

The UK Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) is an independent organization dedicated to ensuring quality and standards in higher education across the United Kingdom. The following is the QAA definition of inclusion from their Inclusive Higher Education Framework:

“Being inclusive means that all students are given an equal opportunity to succeed, independent of their background or demographic characteristics. Higher education providers have an ethical, moral, and legal obligation to ensure that this happens in practice”.

Hubbard, K., & Gawthorpe, P. (2022). Inclusive higher education framework. Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/members/inclusive-higher-education-framework.pdf?sfvrsn=209aaa81_6

3.      Why have I been invited to take part?

You have been invited to take part in this study because you are either a university student from the United Kingdom studying alongside international students in the UK, an international student studying in the United Kingdom, or a university lecturer working with international students  in the United Kingdom.

Participation is voluntary and all participants are free to withdraw their participation up until two weeks after data collection, without explanation. Participants can withdraw by emailing wesalisbury1@uclan.ac.uk.

4.      What will happen if I take part?

If you agree to take part in this study, you will be asked to complete an initial questionnaire and a follow up online recorded interview at a convenient time for you. Your participation is anonymous and there will be nothing to connect your identity to the study.

5.      How will my data be used?

Your data will be used by the researcher to explore how the international student experience United Kingdom universities and is subject to the following: 

The University processes personal data as part of its research and teaching activities in accordance with the lawful basis of ‘public task’, and in accordance with the University’s purpose of “advancing education, learning and research for the public benefit”.

Under UK data protection legislation, the University acts as the Data Controller for personal data collected as part of the University’s research. The University privacy notice for research participants can be found on the attached link https://www.uclan.ac.uk/data_protection/privacy-notice-research-participants.php  

Further information on how your data will be used:

How will my data be collected?

In online questionnaires and interviews.

How will my data be stored?

In a secure password protected UCLan account.

What measures are in place to protect the security and confidentiality of my data?

SMS authentication is required to access the researcher’s secure UCLan account.

Will my data be anonymised?

The data will be anonymised in the doctoral thesis and any articles published in the public domain. The researcher will be the only person with your email address.

Who will have access to my data?

The researcher will have access to your data and the raw anonymised data will be shared with the EdD supervisors. Email addresses of the supervisors can be provided on request.

Will my data be archived for use in other research projects in the future?

No.

When will my data be destroyed?

All data will be destroyed 7 years after the thesis has been completed.

6.      What will happen to the results of the study?

The anonymised data will be included in the doctoral thesis and may be published in academic journals.

7.      What will happen if I want to stop taking part?

Participation in this project is voluntary, and you can withdraw up to two weeks after data collection without giving a reason by contacting the researcher at wesalisbury1@uclan.ac.uk.

8.      What if I am unhappy or if there is a problem?

If you are unhappy, or if there is a problem, please feel free to let me know by contacting William Salisbury (wesalisbury1@uclan.ac.uk) and I will try to help. If you remain unhappy, or have a complaint which you feel you cannot come to myself with, then please contact the Ethics, Integrity and Governance Unit at OfficerForEthics@uclan.ac.uk.

The University strives to maintain the highest standards of rigour in the processing of your data. However, if you have any concerns about the way in which the University processes your personal data, it is important that you are aware of your right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office by calling 0303 123 1113.

9.      Who can I contact if I have further questions?

You can contact William Salisbury: wesalisbury1@uclan.ac.uk