Abstract:

The main goal of our research was to examine the relationship between satisfaction with general and educational facilities and services, and whether international students chose the country again if they had the chance to choose again.

The study was conducted to reveal the opinions of full-time and part-time international students studying in Hungary, analysing their perceptions and attitudes towards educational services and mobility. A quantitative survey with a large sample size was performed: 1566 international students from 72 countries and studying at 27 Hungarian higher education institutions constitute the dataset. The majority of respondents in the sample (81 percent) are Stipendium Hungaricum students, while 12 percent are Erasmus students.

Besides exploring reasons behind the decision to study at a Hungarian higher education institution and the most predominant information sources for this decision, Likert scales were used measuring students’ satisfaction of shopping, sport, entertainment, transport, and accommodation facilities, and their evaluation of education and services related to education quality.

Results show that in many cases, there is a significant relationship among the satisfaction with services, the evaluation of Hungary as an ideal educational destination, and the attitude towards choosing Hungary again. Students perceive Hungary as an ideal educational destination by a higher probability if they are satisfied with the following: academic programme, teaching methods, use of online tools on the courses, scientific prestige, relationship with other students, helpfulness of the tandem/buddy/mentor student, sport facilities (at the university), computer facilities (at the university), satisfaction with rented flat, accommodation facilities (in the city), and regularity of the payment of the scholarship. The choice of the student is strongly influenced by the experienced helpful or hostile attitude in certain informal and formal situations, too. Opinions about mobility also affect whether students came to study in Hungary again. The more the respondent agrees with the related statements, the more likely he/she is to choose Hungary again.

Keywords:

Internationalization of universities, international students, study destination choice.