Forcibly Displaced to an Offbeat Destination: Syrian International Students' Experiences in Portugal

The diversification of international student mobility includes individuals fleeing conflict, persecution, and climate-related disasters. Within these complex dynamics, traditionally offbeat destinations—such as Turkey and Portugal—have emerged as strategic options for forcibly displaced students. Drawing on semi-structured interviews conducted with Syrian international students enrolled in Portuguese higher education (HE), we first examine how these students perceive Portugal as a viable alternative for pursuing HE while escaping the conflict. Second, we analyse their everyday academic and social experiences, analysing how these are embedded in broader ‘survival strategies’ shaped by displacement. Our findings reveal a paradox within the Portuguese international education framework. Although the country presents itself as an avant-garde actor in facilitating forcibly displaced students' access to HE through targeted policies and partnerships, HE institutions lack adequate mechanisms to support their long-term academic and social integration. This disconnect undermines Portugal's potential as a truly inclusive host, leaving the country positioned as merely a survival-strategy destination. We argue that despite the official support and assistance from the government, the burden of integration falls disproportionately on the students themselves, whose educational and social success depends mainly on their agency.