International students arriving at UK higher education institutions often find the first stage of the period of transition from home to British university difficult. Research has shown that the difficulties relate to finding themselves in a new culture. This University of Ulster project encouraged them to explore their feelings by participating in a series of online WebCT discussion tasks during their 6-week presessional programme with the aim of helping to mitigate any disabling effects of arriving in a new country.
The article found that virtual contact did not help students to openly express their thoughts by producing comments at an emotional level; that supportive friendships can be built across cultures as well as in conational groups and that the provision of direct advice on practical and physical problems indirectly brought emotional benefits therefore helping students to manage this time of transition more effectively.
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