The pursuit of ¡°societal freedoms¡± plays a significant role in the decisions of international PhD students to stay overseas after completing their studies, has found.

Westminster Business School academics Setenay Dilek Fidler, Linda Clarke and Rebecca Yi Wang conducted two phases of interviews with a cohort of PhD candidates from Turkey studying in the UK. The scholars were asked about their career pathways and mobility decisions before and after graduation, in 2018 and 2024.

¡°Political issues were initially the strongest driver of mobility,¡± Dilek Fidler told ̽»¨ÊÓƵ. By the second round of interviews, however, ¡°socio-cultural and professional concerns¡±, among them societal freedoms, safety and career opportunities, ¡°became more decisive¡±.

¡°Decisions about whether to stay or leave are shaped not only by employment or income, but also by broader issues such as freedom and fairness,¡± she concluded.

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The study first arose from a ¡°personal interest¡±, Dilek Fidler said: ¡°I am myself a former international PhD student, so I understood the personal dilemmas behind staying abroad or returning home, and I became curious about the experiences of others.¡±

Further research revealed the topic was ¡°timely and highly relevant¡±, she said. Turkey has seen a significant rise in the outflow of international students in recent years, which ¡°began with the , accelerated after the and grew even further following and the subsequent economic downturn¡±, Dilek Fidler explained.

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Meanwhile, the UK government¡¯s recent crackdown on student visas has made international recruitment increasingly difficult for some universities, while ¡° also highlight how international students and academics are increasingly caught up in wider political debates,¡± she said.

¡°Both sending and receiving countries face the challenge of retaining or attracting highly qualified individuals at a time when migration policies, political shifts and economic pressures are reshaping global higher education.¡±

In the first round of interviews, the then PhD students largely cited political factors as their reason for leaving Turkey, although many said they did not intend to settle in the UK ¡°due to stringent migration policies¡±, the study authors wrote.

By the second round, when the interviewees had completed their PhDs, their focus had increasingly shifted to ¡°a desire for a ¡®better life¡¯ or a ¡®better quality of life¡¯¡±, said the authors.

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Some said they had lost hope for political change in Turkey, particularly after the re-election of Erdo?an as president, and many cited ¡°freedom from societal expectations or judgements¡± and restrictions on LGBTQ+ and women¡¯s rights in Turkey as their motivation for remaining abroad.

Study participants also raised professional concerns with returning to Turkey: ¡°nepotism is perceived as a significant barrier to career development and promotion opportunities, representing unfairness in employment,¡± the authors wrote. Many of those who returned to Turkey cited ¡°the compulsory work requirement coming with a government scholarship¡± as a ¡°major¡± factor in their decision.

The findings have significant policy implications for both Turkey and the UK, Dilek Fidler told THE. ¡°Turkey risks losing talent unless it creates an environment where people feel safe, free and valued,¡± she said. ¡°This requires more than financial incentives ¨C it is about protecting academic freedom, ensuring fairness in hiring, and respecting diverse lifestyles.¡±

¡°Universities could play a key role by strengthening meritocracy and fostering inclusivity,¡± she said, but noted that in Turkey, institutions ¡°operate under strong government control, which limits their ability to act autonomously¡±.

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The UK, and other countries receiving international students, should acknowledge that these students ¡°often become long-term contributors to society if they are given fair work opportunities, welcoming policies and inclusive workplaces¡±, Dilek Fidler said.

¡°Partnerships between universities and government can ensure that the talent pipeline created through international doctoral education contributes to both research and the wider society,¡± she said.

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The UK¡¯s current international student policies, however, ¡°are reducing enrolments across universities, creating negative financial consequences for both institutions and the national economy,¡± she said. For students, these policies are ¡°generating uncertainty and making it harder for international graduates to plan their futures in the country¡±.

emily.dixon@timeshighereducation.com