The academic literature on the determinants of international student mobility so far has largely ignored the influence of romantic relationships and study motivation in the development of aspirations to participate in temporary learning experiences in another country. However, young adults might take considerations about investments in individual development (via academic training and thus study motivation) and romantic relationships into account in their decision-making process. Consequently, we apply a life-course perspective analyzing the relationships between having a romantic partner, study motivation, and aspirations to participate in an international exchange program among first-year university students, based on a survey conducted among 603 freshmen in Brussels. As female students are more likely to participate in student exchanges compared with male students, we pay special attention to gender differences. Our results show that a romantic relationship is negatively correlated with aspirations to participate in an international student exchange among female students. In contrast, intrinsic academic motivation is significantly associated with such aspirations among female and male students. Overall, our findings indicate the need for the consideration of different life-course domains in academic studies on international student mobility.

迄今为止，有关国际学生流动性决定因素的学术文献在很大程度上忽略了恋爱关系和学习动机对在另一个国家参加临时学习经历的渴望的影响。但是，年轻人在决策过程中可能会考虑对个人发展的投资（通过学术培训，从而学习动力）和恋爱关系。因此，根据对布鲁塞尔603名新生的调查，我们运用生命历程的角度分析了拥有浪漫伴侣，学习动机和渴望参加一年级大学生之间的国际交流计划之间的关系。与男学生相比，女学生更可能参加学生交流，因此我们特别注意性别差异。我们的结果表明，浪漫的关系与参加女学生之间的国际学生交流的愿望负相关。相反，男性和女性学生的内在学习动机与这种志向显着相关。总体而言，我们的发现表明在国际学生流动性的学术研究中需要考虑不同的人生历程领域。内在的学习动机与男女学生的这种志向显着相关。总体而言，我们的发现表明在国际学生流动性的学术研究中需要考虑不同的人生历程领域。内在的学习动机与男女学生的这种志向显着相关。总体而言，我们的发现表明在国际学生流动性的学术研究中需要考虑不同的人生历程领域。