Factors Influencing Students' Study Abroad Decisions in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal: A Push-Pull Theory and PLS-SEM Analysis of Personal Growth, Career, Culture, Economic Growth, and Physical Geography

Abstract

Background: International student mobility has become an increasingly important component of higher education, with students seeking educational opportunities abroad for academic, personal, cultural, and economic reasons. The decision to study abroad is shaped by a combination of factors originating from students’ home environment and perceived advantages of destination countries.

Purpose: This study examines the factors influencing students' decisions to study abroad in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, focusing on personal growth, career, culture, economic growth, and physical geography, while also identifying associated challenges and potential managerial solutions.

Design/methodology/approach: An explanatory research design was employed, with 413 respondents selected through convenience sampling due to the unknown size of the student population. Push-Pull Theory served as the theoretical foundation for examining how home-country conditions and destination attributes shape study-abroad intentions. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire administered through Kobo Toolbox and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted using SmartPLS 4.0 to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings: The results reveal that personal growth, culture, and economic growth significantly and positively influence students' intentions to study abroad, with economic growth emerging as the strongest predictor. In contrast, career and physical geography did not show statistically significant relationships with study-abroad decisions. The majority of respondents reported facing challenges such as academic differences, cultural adjustment, and language barriers. Students favored managerial interventions including cultural mentorship programs, visa-related workshops, and centralized accommodation resources to address these challenges.

Conclusion: The study highlights those cultural, economic, and personal factors play a more decisive role than career or geographic considerations in shaping Nepalese students' study-abroad decisions, offering valuable insights for educational institutions and policymakers aiming to support students throughout their international education journey.