Student mobility in higher education, also known as academic mobility, higher education mobility or educational mobility, refers to the physical and temporary movement of students from one educational institution to another as part of their studies, either within the same country or abroad.

Examples include student exchange programmes such as Erasmus+ in Europe, the Fulbright programme in the US, Chevening Scholarships in the UK, and DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) in Germany.

"Student mobility" is a general term that covers several types, purposes, durations, and programmes available to students. We will explain each of these topics in this blog post, along with reasons why student mobility is an attractive option to students and universities.

What are the benefits of student mobility for students?

There are many advantages for students to take part in student mobility programmes, either in their home country or abroad.

1. Academic enrichment

Student mobility offers powerful academic advantages that can substantially enhance a student's educational journey. Here’s how students gain academic enrichment:

A break from the usual setting

Stepping into a different academic setting provides students with a valuable change of pace. Exposure to new environments and approaches can contribute to higher academic achievement, particularly for those who study abroad, according to a 2020 study published in the European Journal of Higher Education.

Gaining access to excellent resources

Students gain access to specialised courses that may not be offered at their home university. They also get to take advantage of different equipment and resources, including unique library collections, state-of-the-art research facilities, and advanced laboratories.

Learning from diverse expertise

Attending lectures given by different tutors exposes students to varied perspectives on their field, distinct teaching styles, and a wider range of teaching materials. This broadens their understanding and encourages new ways of thinking.

2. Improved career prospects

Participation in mobility programmes significantly boosts a graduate's competitiveness in the job market. Here's how it shapes career readiness:

Building skills employers crave

Students develop highly valued transversal skills (often called 'soft skills') that are in high demand. Studies such as "Intercultural Communication, Intercultural, and Professional Skills in Student Mobility to Boost Employability" (2022) demonstrate that this includes better communication skills, foreign language fluency, cultural awareness, and stronger problem-solving abilities – all crucial assets sought by employers.

Real-world impact on getting hired

Research consistently shows a strong link between international experience and positive employment outcomes. For a compelling example, the Erasmus Impact Study (2019) found that Erasmus+ graduates secured their first job more quickly than students who didn't go abroad (79% found a job within three months of graduating, compared to 75% of non-mobile graduates).

Standing out from the crowd

Studies indicate that employers actively look for the capabilities gained through mobility. They view international experience as a clear indicator of a candidate's adaptability, resilience, and a proactive, can-do attitude – qualities that really make a CV stand out.

3. Personal development

Beyond academic and career advantages, student mobility is a powerful engine for personal growth. Here’s how students develop personally:

Stepping into independence

Leaving their familiar surroundings to study in a new environment prompts students to rely on themselves. Studies, including the "Erasmus Mobility Impact on Professional Training and Personal Development of Students Beneficiaries" (2015), show that students taking part in mobility programmes develop a stronger sense of independence, self-reliance, and responsibility as they navigate daily life and academic demands on their own. 

Building real self-confidence

Successfully adapting to a different culture and academic system, and overcoming the inevitable challenges that arise, provides a significant boost to students' self-confidence. They learn they are capable of thriving in new and demanding situations.

Making global connections

Mobility provides a great opportunity to build valuable personal networks. Students make friends with people from diverse backgrounds around the world, expanding their understanding of different cultures and ways of life in a truly personal way.

What are the benefits of student mobility for universities?

Higher education mobility is a valuable strategy for your university, not just a perk for students. By actively encouraging your students to study or train abroad and warmly welcoming international students to your campus, you unlock a wealth of benefits that enhance your university's standing, enrich your academic environment, and strengthen your global connections.

Here's a look at the key advantages your university gains.

1. Boost your global profile and reputation

Academic mobility is a seriously smart move for internationalisation, directly contributing to how your university is perceived worldwide. Here’s how it helps put you on the map:

Increasing worldwide visibility

When your students go out and international students come in, your university's presence becomes known in new countries and academic circles. This increased visibility is crucial for global recognition.

Building an international brand

Successfully facilitating mobility enhances your reputation as a globally engaged institution. This makes you a more attractive choice for top prospective students and talented academics from around the globe.

Joining the global conversation

Participating actively in mobility places your university within the international higher education landscape, opening doors for participation in global forums and initiatives.

2. Forge stronger international partnerships

Student mobility programmes aren't just about student movement; they are the very backbone of building and maintaining meaningful relationships with universities abroad. Here's how mobility strengthens your global network:

Deepening collaborations

Sending students and staff on exchange enhances your university partnerships, such as bilateral agreements. These connections become more real and active through their shared experiences abroad.

Opening doors for future projects

Strong mobility partnerships often pave the way for exciting future collaborations, such as joint research initiatives, the development of shared degree programmes, and valuable staff exchanges.

Creating a network of advocates

Students and staff who have positive mobility experiences become advocates for the partner institutions, further solidifying the relationship.

3. Elevate the quality of education and research

Exposure to different academic systems and increased international collaboration directly injects new life into your university's core functions – teaching and research. Here’s how quality is enhanced:

Inspiring curriculum development

Witnessing different teaching approaches, course content, and academic standards at partner institutions can inform and enrich your own curriculum design and pedagogical methods.

Boosting research output

Increased international collaboration stemming from mobility can lead to joint research projects, access to new data or facilities, and diverse perspectives that ultimately enhance the quantity and quality of your research output.

Fostering innovation and digitalisation

Exposure to different technological tools, research methodologies, and administrative practices abroad can spark innovation within your institution, potentially driving digitalisation and efficiency improvements.

4. Attract top talent from around the world

A university that is known for supporting and promoting student mobility naturally becomes a magnet for a wider pool of talented individuals, both students and staff. Here’s why mobility helps you recruit the best:

Appealing to global students

Students seeking an international education experience, whether inbound or outbound, will be drawn to institutions with robust and well-regarded mobility programmes.

Attracting diverse academics

Faculty and researchers seeking opportunities for international collaboration or teaching exchanges are more likely to be interested in a university with an active global network, one that fosters mobility.

Creating a vibrant campus mix

Actively welcoming international students through inbound mobility directly increases the cultural diversity on your campus, creating a richer and more dynamic environment for all students and staff.

5. Enhance graduate employability

While the improved career prospects are a direct benefit for students, their success in the global job market reflects incredibly positively on your university's reputation. Here’s how mobility boosts your graduates' appeal and, by extension, yours:

Producing globally competent graduates

Graduates who have undertaken mobility possess the valuable transversal skills (communication, cultural awareness, adaptability) that employers are actively seeking in today's globalised workforce.

Demonstrating programme effectiveness

The fact that your mobile graduates find jobs more quickly or are more competitive highlights the real-world value of the experiences your university facilitates through mobility programmes.

Building a reputation for employability

Consistently producing highly capable, globally-minded alumni who succeed internationally strengthens your university's overall reputation for graduate employability.

6. Increase campus diversity and intercultural skills

Welcoming international students to your campus and supporting your own students returning from mobility experiences significantly fosters a more multicultural and globally aware university community. Here’s how this diversity enriches the institution:

Creating a multicultural environment

Inbound mobility brings a wealth of different cultural backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences directly onto campus, enriching the learning environment for all students and staff.

Developing intercultural competence

Interaction between local and international students, as well as with returning mobile students, provides invaluable opportunities for everyone on campus to develop crucial intercultural communication and understanding.

Fostering global awareness

A diverse campus community helps to raise global awareness among all students and staff, preparing them to navigate and contribute to an increasingly interconnected world.

7. Staff development

Student mobility programmes aren't just for students! They also play a vital role in the professional growth of your academic and administrative staff, ultimately benefiting the institution. Here’s how staff mobility contributes:

Facilitating knowledge and practice exchange

Mobility programmes make it easier for your staff to spend time at other institutions, allowing them to share their expertise and learn about different administrative processes, teaching methods, and best practices.

Boosting professional growth

Staff mobility contributes to individuals' professional development, broadening their perspectives and enhancing their skills through exposure to new environments and colleagues.

Fostering collaboration and innovation

Staff exchanges can spark new ideas, lead to collaborative projects (both academic and administrative), and help your university adopt innovative approaches learned from partners, creating a win-win for the individual and the institution.

Types of student mobility programmes

Academic mobility doesn't just mean student exchange programmes. There are many types and durations of programmes that fall under the student mobility umbrella, offering different ways for students to gain international or cross-institutional experience. 

How students participate (in person or online)

• Physical mobility: The traditional form of student mobility involves students physically travelling to and residing in the location of the host institution or organisation for their study or training period.

• Virtual mobility: Participating in online courses, collaborative projects, or other educational activities with a foreign institution without physical travel.

• Blended mobility: A combination of physical mobility abroad and a virtual component, allowing for flexibility and wider participation.

Where students go (and where they come from)

• National mobility: Students move to study or train at an institution or organisation in a different region within their own country.

• International mobility: Students move to study or train at an institution or organisation in a different country.

• Incoming mobility: This term is used from the perspective of a host institution, referring to students who come to that institution from elsewhere (either nationally or internationally) for their period of study or research.

• Outgoing mobility: This term is used from the perspective of a home institution, referring to students who go from that institution to study or train elsewhere (either nationally or internationally) for their period of study or research.

Based on what students study or do

• Credit mobility: Students study abroad for a limited period (such as a semester or year) and transfer the credits earned back to their home institution to count toward their degree.

• Degree mobility: Students move to another country or institution to complete their entire degree programme (Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD) there.

• Traineeships or internships abroad: Students undertake a work placement or internship in a company or organisation in a different country as part of their studies or soon after graduating.

• Short-term programmes: These cover shorter experiences, such as summer schools, winter schools, short courses, or thematic programmes, which last from a few days to a few weeks.

• Research stays: For Master's or PhD students, this involves spending time at a foreign institution or research centre to conduct research for their thesis or dissertation.

Comparing types of student mobility

Understanding the various forms of student mobility helps institutions and students identify the best fit for their goals. Here’s a look at the key types:

Examples of student mobility programmes around the world

Student mobility is supported by a wide variety of programmes designed to help students study or train away from their usual university. These programmes come from different places, including universities themselves, national governments, regional bodies, and international groups.

Programmes in Europe

There are a number of student mobility programmes in Europe, such as:

• Erasmus+ (European Union): The largest and most well-known programme, supporting mobility for students, staff, trainees, volunteers, and other young people across Europe and beyond. It primarily facilitates credit mobility and traineeships.

• DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) (Germany): Offers a wide array of scholarships and funding opportunities for German and international students and researchers to study or research in Germany and abroad.

• Turing Scheme (United Kingdom): Provides funding for UK students to undertake study or work placements abroad, supporting global mobility.

• Nuffic (Netherlands): The Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education, managing various scholarship programmes and promoting Dutch higher education abroad and inbound mobility to the Netherlands.

• Campus France (France): The French national agency for the promotion of higher education, international student services, and international mobility, managing scholarships and assisting students wishing to study in France.  

• SMILE (Student Mobility in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe): Facilitates credit mobility exchanges between universities in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe within the Magalhães Network framework.

Programmes in the rest of the world

These are some of the student mobility programmes outside of Europe:

• Fulbright Programme (United States): A flagship international educational exchange programme sponsored by the US government, offering grants for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists, and artists to study, teach, or conduct research and pursue professional development.

• Chevening Scholarships (United Kingdom - Global): The UK government's global scholarship programme, funding future leaders to study postgraduate courses at UK universities.

• MEXT Scholarship (Japan): Offered by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, providing scholarships for international students to study at Japanese universities.

• Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme (Africa - EU-funded): An EU-funded programme supporting learning mobility for students, trainees, and staff across the African continent to improve skills and competences.

• Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme (Africa): Offers comprehensive scholarships to talented African students, enabling them to pursue higher education at partner universities in Africa and globally, often incorporating components of inter-university mobility or experiential learning.

• ACUCA Student Mobility Scheme (Asia): Established by the Association of Christian Universities and Colleges in Asia, this scheme promotes student exchange among member institutions across various Asian countries to foster understanding of Asian communities and cultures.

• Endeavour Awards (Australia): While currently closed to new applications, historically provided prestigious scholarships and fellowships for Australians to undertake study, research, or professional development overseas, and for international citizens to do the same in Australia.

• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Canada): Funds doctoral students studying in Canada, including those from international backgrounds.

• Bilateral Exchange Agreements: Many universities worldwide have direct partnership agreements with specific foreign institutions, offering opportunities tailored to specific fields of study or departments, allowing for the exchange of students.

• National Scholarship Programmes: Numerous countries offer their own national scholarships and funding schemes to support their citizens studying abroad or to attract international students.

The big picture: why student mobility is a game-changer

Academic mobility is a fantastic opportunity for higher education students and institutions, much more than just a fun student trip. It's a significant contributor to growth and offers an important strategic benefit for your university.

When students have the chance to experience mobility, whether it's a short-term programme or a full degree course abroad, it provides substantial advantages. They gain enhanced academic knowledge, which significantly improves their career prospects in today's global job market, and they undergo valuable personal growth.

And for your university? Supporting and enabling student mobility is a significant strategic advantage. It enhances your international standing, strengthens international collaborations, improves the quality of your teaching and research, and helps you attract talented individuals from around the world.

Do you need a trusted student mobility platform?

Making sure that student mobility programmes run smoothly requires a reliable digital system to manage applications, participant information, documents, communication, and reporting. Solemove is here to help. Request a free demo to explore a smarter way to manage your academic mobility programme.