Factors associated with differential attainment among transnational students on an online distance learning programme

ABSTRACT

The gender and ethnicity attainment gap among undergraduate students in UK higher education is well documented. However, there is very little research examining the international attainment gap despite many universities acknowledging that international students achieve lower grades than home students. Furthermore, evidence for international postgraduate students is almost missing from the literature. This study analysed data on 705 students registered on an online distance learning (ODL) postgraduate programme to explore demographic characteristics and educational experience in relation to grade point average (GPA). The research shows that the strongest predictor of student outcome on this Master’s programme was ethnicity and while there was an additional effect of region of birth, classifying students on the basis of ‘home’ or ‘international’, is seriously misleading when examining student performance, at least for this postgraduate programme. Postgraduate ODL programmes in the United Kingdom may need to develop additional support to enable particular groups of learners, including international black and ethnic minority (BAME) students to get the most out of their learning experience.

KEYWORDS:

• Distance learning
• differential attainment
• international students
• ethnicity
• transnational students
• attainment gap

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Isla Gemmell

Isla Gemmell is a Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology and Statistics on the Postgraduate distance learning Master of Public Health programme at the University of Manchester. Isla’s recent research projects are on teaching and learning with specific focus on transnational students’ experience and outcomes. Isla is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Roger Harrison

Roger Harrison is a Senior Lecturer in Public Health on the Postgraduate distance learning Master of Public Health programme at the University of Manchester. Roger has extensive experience in online distance learning programmes in higher education, specifically in health-related disciplines. He is actively involved with quality assurance, research and development across higher education, predominantly in the United Kingdom. Roger is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.