The world beyond the "Brochure": international students and the multicultural branding of Acadia University

The purpose of this research is to expose the shortcomings of multiculturalism as a branding tool for the purpose of international student recruitment. In this research, I use semi-structured interviews to center the voices of international students. I examine if these students' perceptions of Canada and Acadia as multicultural spaces match their lived experiences. My findings suggest that international students at Acadia University lack adequate support and struggle with feelings of non-belonging. General student services routinely neglect international students. Moreover, despite consistent tuition increases, adequate resources have not been allocated to international student services. In conclusion, multiculturalism is a misleading branding tool that does not reflect the reality of student life at Acadia.