Should I Stay or Should I Go? Barriers to Retention of High-Skilled Student Migrants in Slovakia and Recommendations for Policy Change

Decades of high student emigration have left the country with one of the highest rates of outward degree mobility in the OECD. One in five Slovak university students now studies abroad, while fewer than half return after graduation, and those who do tend to be the lower-achieving graduates. At the same time, Slovakia has quietly become a more attractive destination for international students: the foreign student population has nearly tripled since 2011, reaching 25,800 foreign students in 2024/2025, with non-EU students now making up nearly three-quarters of enrolments (Ukrainian students making up the highest number - 13,843). The number of students of African origin increased by 30% between 2019 and 2025. Approximately one in four foreign graduates stays in Slovakia after completing their studies. Several interconnected barriers drive the post-graduation decision not to remain, including (1) poor accessibility of the Slovak language; (2) complex visa and residence permit procedures with no dedicated post-study work pathway; (3) low salaries and weak professional networks; (4) barriers in accessing social services, such as healthcare and social assistance; and (5) absence of state integration support. The barriers do not operate in isolation. Language difficulties compound social isolation, reducing professional networks, limiting job prospects, and making leaving a more rational choice. Effective retention, therefore, requires coordinated action across all levels of governance simultaneously. Retention is not simply a function of individual preferences, but of the institutional environment that shapes the feasibility of staying. Despite the obstacles, students value Slovakia’s safety, affordable EU-recognised education, and low cost of living—indicating genuine retention potential if institutional barriers are removed.