Bournemouth University (BU), led by Dr Andrew M’manga and colleagues, has secured funding from the British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants scheme to investigate contactless transaction literacy among international students in the UK. The project explores how international students understand, experience and adapt to contactless payment technologies as they transition into the UK’s financial, academic and wider societal environment.
Contactless payments have become an integral part of everyday life in the UK, offering convenience and efficiency in financial transactions. However, international students arriving from countries with different payment infrastructures, financial practices and cultural experiences may encounter challenges in understanding and using these technologies securely and confidently. These challenges extend beyond technical knowledge to include security, privacy, trust, risk awareness and financial wellbeing.
The research aims to investigate and model the key dimensions of contactless transaction literacy, examining how students’ previous experiences, perceptions and understanding influence their adoption and use of contactless payment systems. Through engagement with international students who have recently arrived in the UK, the project seeks to identify knowledge gaps, challenges and factors that shape their experiences of contactless transactions.
Ultimately, the project seeks to inform approaches that universities and other stakeholders can adopt to better support international students’ transition into the UK’s increasingly cashless society.
Project Leads: Dr Andrew M’manga, Dr Uma Patel
Funder: British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants