This study explores the work-life balance experiences of international PhD students in relation to balancing the demands of their academics and personal lives. In order to determine strategies utilized to ensure work-life balance, explore the support in place to help them complete their studies and develop recommendations for improving the well-being of these students. Using a phenomenological research design to explore how these international PhD students maintain a balance between academic demands (work) and personal life and to what extent the support from the institution and the society has influenced the perception of these International PhD students. The data collection process involved the use of semi-structured interviews and snowball sampling with thirteen full-time international students. These students were from India, Palestine, Nigeria, Libya, Turkey, Thailand, and The Gambia. From different departments such as Business management, Linguistics, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics. These doctoral students attributed support from their supervisors as well as the family assisted them in maintaining a good work-life balance while several others indicated that the financial demands of the PhD programs without institutional support like such as assistantships roles from the university contributed to the stress they faced as international PhD students which affected their work-life balance. Lack of teaching assistantship roles and inability to gain experience in the academic field has made them uncertain about what the future holds for them in academia. Most of these students also noted that they do not make use of any work-life balance initiatives by the university as they are not aware. On the other hand, some of these participants despite being aware do not use these initiatives as it did not meet their individual needs. Based on these initial findings and in order to reduce the rate of attrition and encourage degree attainment, the higher education institutions can introduce more initiatives that can address the individual needs of these students. Creating more opportunities for these students to gain teaching experience in academia and being able to meet up with some of their financial needs and assure them of a future career in academics. Hence, this study contributes to the existing literature by focusing on the work-life of International PhD students as they are an important group in the educational sector, academically they make valuable contributions to research through their academic work. Financially, they are an asset to higher education institutions as a growing inflow of international students is an indicator of a global higher education market which implies that funds from their tuition fee are a huge addition to the economy of their country of study by generating revenue.