This  study investigates the impact of language barriers on the academic performance of University students in non-native English-speaking contexts. As English has become the dominant medium of instruction in higher education worldwide, many students are required to study complex academic subjects in a second language . This situation often creates linguistic challenges that affect comprehension participation assessment outcomes and overall academic achievement .The research employs a mixed methods approach combining survey data and academic performance indicators to explore how language-related difficulties influence students learning experiences . The findings indicate that limited academic vocabulary low-speaking confidence and insufficient writing skills are among the primary factors negatively affecting academic performance . Additionally the study highlights the importance of institutional language support effective teaching strategies and digital learning tools in reducing the impact of language barriers . The results contribute to the existing literature on English as a Medium of instruction ( EMI )and provide more practical and good recommendations for educators and policy makers seeking to improve educational equity and learning outcomes in multilingual higher education environments.

language barriers, academic performance, higher education English as a medium of instruction, second language.

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https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinf

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