The number of Chinese students studying abroad has increased. Chinese international students have constituted the largest proportion of overseas students in New Zealand (Zhang, 2013). Little research has been done concerning those undertaking doctoral study. The study I have proposed to do thus intends to explore the experiences of Chinese doctoral students studying full-time at New Zealand universities. In this article I review literature on the Chinese international research student experience, in terms of their motives for studying abroad, and their university lives. Much research on the intercultural learning experience has adopted an adaptation perspective and has been more focused on negative experiences, thus strengthening the usual stereotype of students with learning and social deficits. In contrast, using a self-formation paradigm, this proposed study will perceive them as active agents and spotlights how they deal with challenges and difficulties and how they develop themselves in the process.