This working paper introduces the aims, process and preliminary findings of a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) on inequalities in international student mobility (ISM) in the framework of the EU COST Network on International Student Mobilities. The review explores the academic literature from 2000-2022 on inequalities in access to and participation in ISM.
The conceptual framework outlines understandings of ISM and how social inequalities based on factors including gender, socio-economic status, ethnicity, disability, language, and refugee status can shape access, experiences, and outcomes. The methodology follows the PRISMA approach, including a multilingual search strategy in nine languages. It includes empirical and conceptual work, of all methodologies. The review includes 216 publications, the majority of which are journal articles. Key findings highlight inequalities in who participates in ISM, with underrepresentation of students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, ethnic minorities, and those with disabilities. Experiences during ISM are shaped by discrimination, exclusion, and lack of support. However, research on LGBTQ+ and disabilities in ISM is limited, as were research designs that adopted an intersectional understanding of inequalities.
The review concludes by synthesising the key findings on how different forms of inequality manifest across the ISM journey, and identifying important gaps in the literature, such as the predominance of research produced in and focused on the Global Minority, the lack of intersectional approaches, and the absence of critical definitions of key topics related to inequality, such as disability. Recommendations are made for future research and policy to address inequalities in international student mobility.
