Date: 08/07/2025
Speaking of Research is the first podcast from the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership, created to showcase the impactful and thought-provoking work of our doctoral researchers.
Recorded at our annual conference at Cumberland Lodge in April 2025, each episode invites listeners into a conversation with Catherine McDonald and a researcher, exploring how their studies contribute to changeโwhether in policy, practice, or public understanding.
๐ Episode 9 โ Resilience and Exclusion: The International Student Experience in the UK with Isaac Thornton
In this episode of Speaking of Research, Isaac Thornton, a doctoral researcher from the University of Brighton, shares his research on the experiences of international students in the UK.
With over 600,000 international students contributing to UK society and higher education, Isaac explores how they navigate challenges such as visa restrictions, financial pressures, and housing issues. He uses a combination of interviews, surveys, and policy analysis to understand how students adapt and where support is lacking.
Isaac explains that resilience is not just about individual strength, but about the social networks, communities, and institutional resources that help students thrive. His work calls for better support from universities and policymakers to address exclusion and strengthen the wellbeing and success of international students.
๐ง Resilience and Exclusion: The International Student Experience in the UK
Listen now: Speaking of Research โ Isaac Thornton
This is a thoughtful and timely episode for anyone interested in international education, student wellbeing, and how research can shape more supportive and inclusive university environments.
Keep an eye out for more episodes as we continue showcasing the diverse voices and research across the South Coast DTP.
๐ง New Episodes Every Tuesday Until 16 July
Speaking of Research will release a new episode every Tuesday from now until 16 July, with a total of 10 episodes in Series One. Tune in weekly to hear directly from researchers across our partner institutions.
You can listen on your favourite platform:
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Spotify: Listen here
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Apple Podcasts: Listen here
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Amazon Music: Listen here
๐ฌ Weโd love to hear from you. If you have comments, reflections, or feedback, feel free to get in touch with us at scdtp@soton.ac.uk.