International students are an integral part of the social, cultural and academic context of Higher Education in many countries. Although individually these students are transient visitors, as a group they are a significant element of the social and cultural landscape of Higher Education. This text provides a detailed examination of the international experience from the student's point of view. Focusing on a contextualized, wider view of learning at university, it explores how learning and development in Higher Education is much more than simply what goes on in the classroom, and demonstrates how it is embedded in an influential social and cultural context. Based on recent empirical data that offers an insight into the informal learning experience of international students, the book provides a platform for discussion of alternative ways of thinking about approaches to teaching and learning that respond to social and cultural diversity. Equally relevant to those working and studying in higher education, this innovative text enables practitioners to develop an advanced understanding of the social and academic experience of international students.