A Structured Literature Review on Decision-Making Factors of International Students in Higher Education

With higher education becoming ever more competitive worldwide, it is increasingly important to understand the determinants of international students’ destination choices. This study employs a systematic literature review (SLR) method to analyze 61 empirical studies on international higher education destination choices published between 2017 and 2024. We systematically categorized influencing factors at the individual, institutional, and country levels, highlighting the post-COVID concerns related to health and safety, political and social stability. In addition, the review differentiates decision-making patterns across undergraduate, postgraduates, and research-based programs, revealing variations in motivations and constraints across program types. Building on these insights, the study proposes an Integrated Model of Decision Making in International Higher Education (IMDMIHE), offering a process-oriented framework to guide future research.