Factors influencing the high school graduates’ decision to study abroad: Toward a theoretical model

Abstract

Institutions of higher education address the challenges of globalization by increasing their internationalization. This paper addresses the issue of consumers’ decision-making in higher education, based on a literature review. The aim of this paper is to formulate a theoretical model, identifying and systematizing factors, influencing the high school graduates’ decision to study abroad. The proposed model consists of 114 factors, divided into six groups. The model allows the assessment of each factor and its influence on the student’s decision, as well as the assessment of the factors’ interactions. The model can be used by the stakeholders of the higher education system, as to define the policies and strategies of individual institutions.