Moving to Opportunity Abroad Through International Educational Migration

World Bank, Toman Barsbai, Merve Demirel, Philipp Moskopp, Marcello Pérez Alvarez and Matthias Sutter

No 212835, The Social Policy and Labor Discussion Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: This project studies the effects of international educational migration from a low-income country. We evaluate an intervention from an NGO that supports Ugandan students with limited financial means in p ursuing a bachelor’s degree in Germany. Admission to the program may substantially expand students’ economic opportunities by combining the returns to migration to a high-income country with the returns to higher education. We conduct a randomized controlled trial that leverages the NGO’s randomized admissions process among qualified applicants. In addition, we implement a randomized school-based campaign that informs secondary school students in Uganda about the program. Here, we present preliminary evidence on short-term effects. Admission to the program increases applicants’ monthly labor income by about $900 during their first years in Germany, while they are still students and working part-time. Despite the challenges of adapting to a markedly different environment, admission to the program considerably improves the subjective wellbeing of applicants and their parents in Uganda. Admission also raises aspirations among applicants’ siblings and friends in Uganda. The school-based information campaign raises migration intentions and aspirations but has no measurable impact on human capital investments.

Date: 2026-07-28
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