The World is our Campus: An Inside Look on International Students at BYU

Brigham Young hosts an impressive array of students from 107 countries.

Provo, UT– For these four, the BYU experience looks a little different as they navigate the struggles and triumphs of being an international student. 

Caio (1), and Gracious (2), Ivan (3) and Dayana (4) are like many other students at BYU. They have supportive families and friends. They enjoy participating in activities like clubs, sporting events, and dating. They spend time doing homework and worrying about their grades. The major difference? They’ve traveled much farther to be here in Provo.

These four students represent a tiny part of the student population. Of the 32,823 undergraduate students here at BYU, 1,252 are international- just 3.8%. This small percentage comprises students from 107 countries, primarily from Canada, Mexico, and South Korea.

BYU students also have an extensive foreign language ability, with over 60% being able to speak a second language. 127 different languages are spoken on campus, with 84 being taught regularly in the classroom.

Indeed, the world is our campus, and Ivan, Dayana, Caio, and Gracious play a big part in that. Coming from Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Zambia, they are proud to represent their countries. 

They also have a wide variety of interests as each has chosen to pursue a different major: Information Systems (Ivan), Illustration (Dayana), Accounting (Caio), and Public Health (Gracious).

But before they stepped foot on campus, there were a number of obstacles to overcome that a domestic student does not face.

One of the first steps for Ivan, Dayana, and Caio was passing an English proficiency test called the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Although attempts are unlimited, the exam costs about $160 to take, and often requires several attempts to pass. Ivan recounted that he had to take it twice. For Dayana, it took her five times before she was successful.

Students must also pay to have their high school transcripts processed and translated to the American school system equivalent, which can be very expensive.

Then there is the process of obtaining a student visa. This process includes legal fees and documents and an in-person interview at the embassy. Each candidate must also provide upfront proof of funds in their (or a sponsor’s) bank account to pay for one full school year, which includes tuition, food and housing, books, and personal expenses. For a BYU student, that cost is $22,004.

So why would an international student choose to come here at all? 

For Ivan (Ecuador), it was about the opportunity to serve. 

Ivan explained that while on his mission, he wanted the chance to help others in Spanish and English. The advantage he had in being bilingual was a huge draw, and he knew he would be able to meet other native Spanish speakers at BYU.

Dayana (Peru), on the other hand, wanted a chance to follow her dreams of becoming an animator and illustrator. She explained that in her home country, there are not many opportunities to pursue a career in art, but in coming to BYU, that all changed.

"I wanted to be able to receive a better education"- one where she could earn money for pursuing her passions.

Both Ivan and Dayana explained that their older siblings were influential in their decisions. Ivan’s sister had come to BYU a couple years prior, and Dayana’s two older siblings had both studied Finance at UVU. They helped greatly in navigating the legal process. 

"My sister was the first one who... opened the doors for us to come here," Dayana said. After she studied illustration at BYU, it became clear that her brother and Dayana herself wanted to follow in her footsteps.

Gracious (Zambia) and Caio (Brazil) are both the first in their family to study abroad. 

“Originally, I did not plan to come to BYU”, Gracious said. After having studied a few years in her home country, the idea became appealing to her on her mission in Tanzania as her friends encouraged her to apply. “It was just very inspiring to see people and know that there’s a bigger world that has a lot of members, you know?” 

Caio, on the other hand, had been sent earlier to the US by his parents to complete high school. 

Caio was born in Sao Paulo but has lived in Mozambique, Peru, and Mexico due to his father’s job. Neither of his parents ever had the opportunity to study in the US, so when it became a possibility for their son, they didn’t hesitate. After earning a high school diploma, Caio went on to complete an Associate’s degree at Ensign College.

Dayana took this same route as she also completed two years at Ensign College before coming to BYU. 

The challenges they faced only intensified after they arrived on campus. 

When asked about specific struggles of being an international student, things like finances, a lack of connection, and a language barrier were at the top of the list, but the most prevalent concern was work.

For starters, international students are not allowed to take a job off campus, which limits opportunities and the amount of money they can make. This often adds to the financial stresses that the students already face.

They also must not exceed a limit of 20 working hours per week. Even a couple minutes over could end in deportation.

Another big issue is adjusting to American culture.

“Little cultural differences, yeah,” Gracious said. She amusedly recounted a time when she put marshmallows in apple cider because she had no idea what to do with them.

Both Ivan and Caio also expressed that it is hard to deal with learning the nuances of American culture while trying to date and make friends.

However, despite the challenges they face, all four have experienced triumphs and intense joy in being able to study at BYU. When asked what her greatest triumph was at BYU, Dayana said “Just being here.”

The triumph in being able to study at a university to follow their dreams is more than an opportunity, it's the chance of a lifetime.

The four have enjoyed finding their place on campus through clubs and organizations that allow them to express their cultural identity. Dayana especially appreciates the Multicultural Student Services (MSS) office, which often hosts events to celebrate heritage and culture. She even participated in Fiesta, a cultural concert featuring dances and performances from Latin America.

Ivan expressed his pursuit of hip-hop dance and soccer while being here at BYU, and Gracious mentioned that she finds fulfillment in finding opportunities to serve other students, such as being involved in BYUSA and the Rhythm and Soul Collective, a dance group centered on African dance styles and culture. Caio enjoys attending BYU sporting events and participating in game nights held by friends from classes and his mission.

So what will they do once their time at BYU is over?

When asked about future plans, all four expressed that they are not yet sure of what they want to do after graduation. Caio and Dayana, whose families have since migrated to the States, would like to spend more time close to them. For Gracious and Ivan, on the other hand, whose families reside in their home countries, their decision to stay in the US or return home remains unmade.

They, too, face the pressures of future careers and family, just like any other domestic student at the university.

In any case, they have a lot to be grateful for as they reflect on the path they took to arrive at BYU, and they look forward to as they continue on this path of spiritual and academic education.