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International Student Mobility and Study Choice: A Two-Stage Migration Pattern

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  • Bakil Ghundol

    (School of Foreign Languages, Guangdong University of Science and Technology, Dongguan 523668, China
    Department of Applied Linguistics, School of Education, Learning, and Communication Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK)

  • Abdulghani Muthanna

    (Centre for Pedagogical Development and Learning, Østfold University College, 1757 Halden, Norway)

Abstract

This study aims to explore the main factors for Yemeni international students’ choice and motivation for selecting China as their study destination. We employed a qualitative case study approach, and conducted twenty-five semi-structured, in-depth interviews with Yemeni international students. The analyses provide new insights into the dynamics behind selecting China as the students’ study destination. Further, the analyses contribute to the identification of a two-stage migration pattern that highlights China as a stepping land, and then toward the global north. These new insights call for rethinking of the traditional push–pull models that have positive and negative effect on the well-being of international students, suggesting new approaches toward the understanding of the evolving dynamics of international student mobility.

Suggested Citation

  • Bakil Ghundol & Abdulghani Muthanna, 2026. "International Student Mobility and Study Choice: A Two-Stage Migration Pattern," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:15:y:2026:i:2:p:106-:d:1861021
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