This study examines the role of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) in academic communication, with particular attention to communication practices, academic success, and cultural awareness in multilingual and multicultural higher education contexts. As English increasingly serves as a common language among students, researchers, and faculty from diverse linguistic backgrounds, understanding its opportunities and challenges has become increasingly important. Data were collected through a 15-item online questionnaire completed by 36 participants from six countries, including undergraduate and graduate students and faculty members. The findings indicate that ELF is widely used for academic activities such as coursework, academic writing, presentations, meetings, and communication with international colleagues. Most participants reported confidence in using ELF and perceived it as beneficial to the quality of their academic work, international publication opportunities, and cross-cultural academic collaboration. However, participants also identified challenges related to linguistic accuracy, academic writing, communication anxiety, and comprehension. Notably, 91.7% of respondents perceived English proficiency as a factor in academic evaluation, while 97.2% supported greater institutional language support for non-native English-speaking scholars. Overall, the findings suggest that ELF functions not only as a means of facilitating academic communication and international collaboration but also as an important factor in shaping intercultural awareness and experiences of linguistic equity. The study highlights the need for inclusive academic practices and institutional support that recognize the diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds of ELF users.