https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6039-8194
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ABSTRACT
This paper analyses the patterns of international student enrolments in Portugal to understand what makes Portuguese higher education attractive. Employing a database of enrolments in Portuguese higher education institutions in 2017/2018, it uses correspondence analysis to characterise the flows of students coming from different countries and the variation by institution type, qualification level, disciplinary area and location. Attractiveness is not homogeneous. Portuguese-speaking students from Africa tend to enrol in undergraduate degrees, but depending on country of origin they prefer certain institution types. European students are attracted to Health-related programmes in private institutions. Chinese and Brazilian students seek primarily postgraduate qualifications in public universities. Thus, different publics choose Portuguese higher education for different reasons, suggesting that attractiveness is multifaceted and varies by students’ country of origin. The implications are that institutions in countries which are emerging players in international student recruitment need to carefully identify their target publics and distinctive assets.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 CNAEF is an adaptation of the EUROSTAT Fields of Education and Training Manual to the Portuguese context.
2 The integrated master combines a bachelor’s and a master degree, lasting 10–12 semesters, offered in professional fields which require more than a bachelor degree for students to be allowed to practice the profession (e.g. medicine, architecture, psychology or engineering).