This paper unpacks the dominant concepts of international students, a demographic of increasing significance within the global talent pool. This study explore how past research identifies international students to reveal the contradictory nature of terminology that could serve as a barrier for talent identification and development within organizational settings. We propose the definition and introduce five criteria for discussing who international students are from the talent development lens. We also suggest avenues for future research. Clarifying the concept of international students is crucial for identifying and understanding their nature and characteristics, which in turn facilitates their development into valuable talent.