Exploring post-graduation mobility

A scoping review of international students’ decision-making

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/ws5wae77

Keywords:

decision-making, higher education, international students, international student mobility, post-graduation mobility

Abstract

International student mobility has been an important feature of higher education, attracting substantial research attention in recent decades, yet students’ post-graduation mobility remains largely overlooked in literature. Guided by the PRISMA-ScR framework (JBI) and the guidelines by Arksey and O’Malley (2005), this scoping review synthesised data from 65 studies pertaining to factors influencing international students’ post-graduation migratory decisions. Descriptive mapping and thematic analyses revealed six main dimensions of influences: personal, career and employment, societal, connection, policy and political, and cultural factors. The review suggests that students’ decisions are highly contextualised and situational, and go beyond economic considerations of returns on investment. Additionally, the analysis reveals that students’ decisions are consistently evolving, showing fluidity, uncertainty and temporality. This review contributes to a more nuanced understanding of international student mobility and highlights the importance of reframing the theoretical approaches in future research to better reflect the dynamics of international student mobility pathways.

Author Biographies

  • Boya Zhao, University of Melbourne

    BOYA ZHAO is a graduate researcher at the Centre for the Study of Higher Education, University of Melbourne, Australia. His research interests include international students’ experience in higher education, student agency, mobility, employability and graduate outcome. Email: boyaz@student.unimelb.edu.au

  • Samantha Marangell, University of Melbourne

    SAMANTHA MARANGELL, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in Higher Education at the Centre for the Study of Higher Education, University of Melbourne, Australia. Her research interests encompass multiple facets of the student experience of higher education: the experiences of distinct student groups, student wellbeing, internationalisation of higher education, internationalisation of the curriculum, and students’ intercultural interaction in the learning environment. Email: samantha.marangell@unimelb.edu.au

  • Chi Baik, University of Melbourne

    CHI BAIK, PhD, is a Professor of Higher Education at the Centre for the Study of Higher Education, University of Melbourne, Australia. Her research explores factors influencing the educational experiences and outcomes of students from diverse backgrounds in higher education. Email: cbaik@unimelb.edu.au

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Published

2026-08-19

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Vol. 16 No. 18 (2026): Journal of International Students

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Research Articles (English, regular edition)

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Copyright (c) 2026 Boya Zhao, Samantha Marangell, Chi Baik

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How to Cite

Zhao, B., Marangell, S. ., & Baik, C. (2026). Exploring post-graduation mobility: A scoping review of international students’ decision-making. Journal of International Students, 16(18), 165-190. https://doi.org/10.32674/ws5wae77