International students are increasingly present in higher education institutions in Malaysia. According to Muhammad, Sabbar, Shahid, and Rai Imtiaz (2013), “international students or foreign students are those who travel to a country different from their own for the purpose of studying” (p.834). Since international students are those who travel to a country from their home country, it is nice that they encounter greater challenges and difficulties. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay Based on recent statistics from the Planning, Research and Policy Coordination Division, Ministry of Higher Education , percentage of international students enrolled in public higher education institutes in Malaysia is 4.85%. These students come from different parts of the world like Maldives, Indonesia, China, Thailand, Maldives, Nigeria, Sudan, Yemen, Iran, Brunei, Saudi Arabia and others. This statistic shows that Malaysia is considered one of the preferred destinations for international students to pursue their higher education. However, despite this preference, international students pursuing their higher education in Malaysia still cannot escape the challenges and problems throughout their studies in Malaysia. Many people say that students in higher education institutions face many problems throughout their study life and there are few major problems that almost every college student has to face at least once during their years in Malaysia. Nevertheless, in terms of challenges and difficulties, international or foreign students face greater and different adaptation challenges than local students. International students are as important as local or domestic students in higher education institutions in Malaysia. Without their massive presence, Malaysia will lose its chance to develop, as higher education institutions are one of the key factors in the development of the nation. Accordingly, it is important to know the main challenges and problems faced by international students in Malaysia so that a better solution or incentive can be considered in order to help them. Basically, it is believed that the main problems dealt with by International students in Malaysia are categorized based on their social and cultural differences, financial difficulties and insufficient facilities provided by the university. Social and Cultural Differences International or foreign students have faced greater challenges throughout their studies in Malaysia due to the social and cultural difference. There are differences in terms of ethnic groups, races, customs, culture and traditions. When international students come to Malaysia, they should be able to adapt to the culture of Malaysia because this country is one of the most multicultural countries in Southeast Asia. In order to acquire knowledge, these students will have to make the necessary socio-cultural adjustments or adaptations in order to integrate into an unfamiliar place and environment by reaching out to the locals. Therefore, this might be difficult to achieve if there is no interaction between foreign students and locals. It is quite infamous that Malaysians are shy when it comes to foreign people orforeigners who come to the country. For example, a study by Abdullahi, Noor, and Musa (2014) found that “on sociocultural aspects, they express difficulty in understanding.” the nature of the Malay people and culture. The Malays were on average known to be peaceful, calm, quiet and very reserved; they maintained a low level of interaction with their (foreign) guests” (p. 164). The study clearly shows that international students in Malaysia have difficulty adapting to the Malaysian culture. Although Malaysians are on average known to be peaceful, calm, calm and very reserved, it is not considered a bad or unhealthy signal. However, for people who did not grow up in the environment of Malay culture, it may be taken as a bad or unhealthy signal or simply perceived as a sign of hatred. Additionally, international students may experience a more painful adjustment to life abroad. in relation to their own nation. Adapting to a new culture can be a difficult and stressful experience. Yusliza and Chelliah (2010) believe that “international students differ greatly in their adaptation to their new situation and their new studies. Some adapt easily while others find it very difficult” (p.275). For international students, coming to Malaysia literally means entering a new social and educational environment where they have to go through a difficult condition. This could lead to a painful adjustment in their lives, as they will have to deal with the dissimilarities between their personal cultural values ​​and the rules and customs of their own nation (GulRaihan and Sandaran, 2017). Being opposed in cultural values ​​can affect their mental health, leading to helplessness and loneliness. A study by GulRaihan and Sandaran (2017) revealed several factors that influence socio-cultural adaptation challenges of international students, namely language proficiency, academic adaptation, environmental adaptation. and interpersonal adaptation. According to the study, international students face difficulty understanding the English accent of Malaysians and vice versa. Sometimes they even struggle to speak English rather than their own language. It has been claimed that English proficiency and coping appear to be positively related and will affect their adaptations (Yusliza & Chelliah, 2010; Sawir, Marginson, Mewett, Nylan, & Ramia, 2012). It is important for international students to overcome their language difficulties first, otherwise other problems may arise, such as difficulty coping with academic work, a lack of certainty when expressing their ideas in class or difficulty in understand what is expected of them at university. language proficiency and adaptation to the environment also affect international students in adjusting their life in Malaysia as they have to live independently from their parents and family. They will have to get used to the pace of life in Malaysia. It is therefore proven that these factors will affect the sociocultural adaptation of international students. Therefore, social and cultural differences can be one of the challenges international students face throughout their studies in Malaysia. Financial pressure is another major problem or one of the major constraints that affect the studies of international students in Malaysia, especially those who do not benefit from financial aid. aids and must pay tuition and living expenses themselves. According to Baharak and Ramli (2015), research has shown that international students who received a graduate assistantship do not encounterfinancial difficulties compared to international students who do not receive financial aid or a self-funded student. The reason for these financial difficulties faced by self-funded international students is the stress of not having enough money to pay for their tuition and accommodation fees. It is generally known that the tuition and accommodation fees that international students have to pay at the university are higher than those of local students. On the other hand, international students also have fewer opportunities to earn additional income that would further improve their financial capacity. For example, international students can earn additional income while studying in Malaysia by working part-time. However, even though international students are allowed to work part-time in Malaysia, part-time job opportunities are limited and competition is also fierce. Today, almost two-thirds of local students work part-time to finance their studies. The increase in the number of students working part-time is due to the high cost of living in Malaysia, which not only affects international students but also local students. Additionally, there are also several restrictions or guidelines that govern international students who wish to work part-time. employment while studying in Malaysia. The Malaysian Immigration Department has specific guidelines for international students studying in Malaysia who are seeking part-time work opportunities. This directive more or less reduces the opportunity for international students to earn additional income as they are bound by certain restrictions. According to Alghamdi and Otte (2016), financial difficulties are also considered as one of the challenges faced by international students. This article argues that the financial difficulties faced by international students are due to the reduced possibility of pursuing part-time employment because they are on student visas and are therefore restricted by law. They also have limited employment rights and limited knowledge of their rights in the workplace. In summary, as international students are restricted by law and must spend more money on tuition, accommodation, and transportation, it is believed that international students face greater financial hardship. difficulties compared to local students in Malaysia. The issue of inconvenient facilities in Malaysia is equally important in determining why international students face greater challenges throughout their studies in Malaysia. Facilities are considered a barrier if they are poor, inconvenient and inaccessible. Baharak and Ramli (2015) explain that facilities are divided into three main groups: accommodation places, transport facilities and eating places. Some international students may have difficulty finding good accommodation, but there are nevertheless lucky students whose universities offer accommodation. If students cannot access university-provided accommodation, private rental is the next option. Private rental would not be a big burden considering they are located close to the university. However, if it is too far from the university, international students may feel very reluctant to stay there as it will incur higher costs as transportation may add to the cost of house rent. In addition to having difficulty finding accommodation and means of transportation, some..”