Abstract
<jats:p>This report explores how international students at Copenhagen Business School (CBS) experience well-being while navigating the uncertainties of studying in a new country, and what role social connections play in that process. The report is based on 16 semi-structured qualitative interviews with international students at both bachelor’s and master’s level, including EU and non-EU students. The report draws on two complementary theoretical perspectives: a relational capabilities framework and the concept of psychological safety. Across the interviews, students consistently described relationships within study groups, friendships, and opportunities for meaningful interaction as central to their experiences of well-being. At the same time, building social connections proved far from straightforward. Danish social closedness, language-based segmentation on campus, and group work practices shape students’ opportunities to establish the kinds of relationships that support participation, belonging and well-being. For non-EU students in particular, financial pressures and visa-related uncertainties added an additional layer of complexity to an already demanding transition. The findings suggest that social connection functions as the primary mechanism through which international students navigate difficulty, seek orientation, and develop the capacity to engage with uncertainty together with others. In this sense, well-being appears closely connected to students’ opportunities to participate in communities, draw on relationships, and remain engaged with others while navigating unfamiliar environments. The report concludes with three recommendations: strengthening opportunities for connection during study start and beyond, strengthening study groups as communities of support and belonging, and supporting teachers in creating inclusive and psychologically safe learning environments.</jats:p>