Education outmigration from Central Asia to Turkey: Central Asian students in Turkey’s universities

This study examines Turkey’s evolving role as a regional hub for higher education, focusing on the complex dynamics of student migration from Central Asian states. Drawing on extensive fieldwork and both primary and secondary data, the research investigates how historical legacies, institutional configurations and contemporary global dynamics shape educational migration patterns. The study analyses individual migration decisions within the broader context of historically embedded institutional influences and the path-dependent nature of push–pull dynamics. Key factors contributing to Turkey’s attractiveness as a destination for higher education include its cultural proximity, economic affordability and established social networks – particularly those formed through earlier waves of Central Asian labour migration. Additionally, informal institutional arrangements that offer flexibility for students, along with relatively low tuition fees and living costs, further enhance Turkey’s appeal to international students from the region.