The decision of international students to remain in Slovakia after completing their higher education is not merely a matter of individual preference. A key role is played by the institutional environment, which shapes the conditions that encourage graduates to stay. This is the main conclusion of a new policy brief produced within the PACES project by researchers Lucia Kováčová, Lucia Mýtna Kureková, and Terézia Zemeníková from
the Slovak Academy of Sciences.
For many years, Slovakia has been among the countries with a high rate of domestic students leaving to study abroad. At the same time, however, it has become an increasingly attractive destination for international students. Since 2011, the number of international students has nearly tripled, reaching 25,800 in the 2024/2025 academic year. Despite this growth, only around one in four international graduates remains in Slovakia after completing their studies.
The policy brief identifies five key barriers that influence graduates' decisions to stay in Slovakia: limited access to Slovak language education, complex visa and residence procedures, low wages and weak professional networks, barriers to accessing healthcare and social support, and the absence of a systematic integration policy.
The research also demonstrates that these factors reinforce one another, meaning that effective retention requires coordinated measures across multiple areas of public policy.
The authors also highlight that international students value Slovakia's safety, affordable higher education recognized across the European Union, and relatively low living costs. Removing these systemic barriers could therefore significantly increase Slovakia's ability to retain talented graduates and better harness their contribution to society and the economy.
The policy brief provides concrete recommendations for policymakers, higher education institutions, and other stakeholders involved in creating the conditions for the successful integration of international students and graduates.
The policy brief is available for download here