International mobility after the PhD: exploring the characteristics and early labour market outcomes of UK doctoral graduates

Abstract While the mobility patterns of first-degree students and graduates have been extensively researched, there is limited understanding of the international mobility of doctoral graduates. This article examines the early outbound mobility of UK domiciled doctoral graduates. Informed by human capital and signalling theory, we analyse the Higher Education Statistics Agency’s Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey ( n = 28,535), to consider whether mobility (1) differs by graduates’ socio-demographic background and PhD programme characteristics and (2) is associated with different early labour market outcomes. We find that individual socio-demographic background and PhD programme characteristics have a statistically significant effect on international mobility 6 months after graduation. International mobility is significantly higher among Oxbridge and STEM doctoral graduates. We observe a small positive association between international mobility and PhD graduates' salary. International mobility after the PhD is highly associated with the probability of securing an academic and research role or a postdoctoral contract. Our findings are consistent with existing research on scientific careers which identifies a ‘mover’s advantage’. We propose that international mobility can be framed as a human capital investment that enables self-advancement within the competition for research employment. The norms of the knowledge economy and global science reward doctoral graduates with international experience, which acts as a positive signal of productive capability. Our insights are germane to a variety of stakeholders concerned with continuing doctoral expansion and indicate the scientific and economic importance of ensuring equitable access to mobility opportunities.