The transformational impact of travel on international students

Purpose This study aims to examine the transformative impact of travel on international students, comparing short-term academic tourists with long-term mobility students to assess how travel, living and academic experiences shape transformative learning. Design/methodology/approach An embedded mixed-method design combined quantitative survey data from 462 respondents with qualitative insights including 12 graphic elicitation interviews, offering a comprehensive view of students’ transformational experiences outside the classroom. Findings Living and travelling abroad show greater transformative potential than academic study alone. Short-term academic tourists experience more intense travel-related transformation, while longer-term students benefit from sustained immersion and ongoing challenges. Reflection and frequent travel consistently amplify transformation across groups. Research limitations/implications This study is limited by its focus on a specific student sample. Future research should examine diverse educational programmes and travel products, distinguish between active and passive activities, explore the role of emotions in transformation and adopt longitudinal designs to assess the long-term impacts on identity, career and intercultural competencies. Practical implications Study-abroad programmes should intentionally design travel experiences that combine challenge, cultural immersion and guided reflection, enabling students to engage in developmental journeys of self-discovery and intercultural growth. Social implications Leveraging travel for transformational learning can foster intercultural competence, global citizenship and personal adaptability, contributing to societal resilience and empathy. Originality/value This study advances transformational tourism and education research by empirically validating the role of travel for student transformation. It reveals how reflection, travel frequency and language levels interact to amplify travel’s impact. The findings redefine study-abroad experiences, highlighting travel as a catalyst for personal growth and intercultural competence.