PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

While studying abroad, international students not only pursue academic qualifications but also begin to imagine and plan their future mobility trajectories. One central decision concern is whether to remain in the host country after graduation or return to the country of origin or move to another country. This article investigates the individual and social factors that shape post‐graduation work intentions among international Chinese students in Germany, the second‐largest international student group in the country. Drawing on original survey data from the Bright Futures project (2018), we analyse how life satisfaction, romantic partnerships, career aspirations and social networks influence students’ likelihood of planning to work in Germany after graduation. Using binary logistic regression models, we find that higher life satisfaction, valuing meaningful employment and having a partner in Germany are all significantly associated with intentions to stay. In contrast, the geographical location of broader personal networks shows no significant effect. These findings contribute to migration and higher education research by foregrounding the role of subjective well‐being and certain forms of relational embeddedness in shaping students’ imagined futures. Rather than treating international students as passive participants in education‐driven mobility, we highlight how personal and emotional factors influence their transition into potential long‐term migrants.