International Student Mobility and the Obtainment of Elite Academic Positions: Does It Pay Off and for Whom?

In contemporary academia, many doctoral students undertake short-term research visits abroad. While prior studies acknowledge the prevalence of International Student Mobility (ISM), its causal linkages to elite academic career outcomes—and crucially, for whom these benefits accrue—remain unexamined. This study uses data from the China National Doctoral Survey to examine the benefits of ISM through LASSO regression and heterogeneous treatment effect analysis. Doctoral graduates with ISM experience exhibit a nearly 35% higher likelihood of securing elite academic positions (EAP) than their counterparts without. Moreover, the host country and the duration of stay moderate returns, with extended stays in scientifically advanced countries having a much higher likelihood of securing EAP. Further results indicate that doctoral students who are less likely to participate in ISM benefit the most from it. These findings underscore ISM's differential returns, highlighting the need for policies that boost overall effectiveness while ensuring equitable access to opportunities.