The dataset comprises 13 interview transcripts, with sensitive information redacted. These interviews were conducted online during the Spring and Summer of 2021 and involved international students who had participated in study abroad or degree-seeking programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The interviews focused on the students' experiences as they transitioned from traditional in-person programs to online and blended learning due to pandemic-related isolation measures.This qualitative study explored students' lived experiences of higher education study abroad programs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Studying individual experiences in extraordinary circumstances like a pandemic can reveal personal, organisational and process-related resilience relevant to understanding and planning future events. Online semi-structured interviews with thirteen international students from four continents were conducted. Through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, four response categories were identified: Functioning in Ambiguity, The Importance of Language and Culture, Reshaping Community, and Alternative Experiences in Intercultural Connectivity. These findings can guide professionals in considering cultural, linguistic, and social factors when designing content and delivery methods for international student cohorts.

The interview data was collected through qualitative audio and video recordings, which were transcribed for analysis as part of Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. The aim was to explore the participants' lived experiences.