International students from China and South Korea are an increasingly important part of the international student body in many English-medium postsecondary institutions. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and needs of these two groups of students at a Canadian postsecondary institution. Data were gathered through written narratives from 22 students from China and 14 students from South Korea. In addition, interviews were conducted with 7 staff members. The data identified some similarities and differences between these two groups of students. Both groups faced challenges with language and culture, academics, finances and making local friends. South Korean students differed from Chinese students in terms of their expectations and previous experiences, which may have contributed to lower satisfaction ratings. The article concludes by proposing three areas in which postsecondary institutions can develop programs to improve the experiences and satisfaction of international students.