The effect of COVID-19 on international student credit mobility:a gravity model approach

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption in education.We employ a gravity model to estimate its impact on internationalstudent credit mobility. Data on inbound and outbound students toand from four Spanish universities between the academic years 2017–2018 and 2021–2022 are used. While Covid-19 significantly reducedparticipation in international mobility programs in the academic year2020–2021, study abroad numbers bounced back to pre-pandemiclevels in the next academic year. Student flows between Spain and non-EU countries have been more negatively affected by Covid-19 thanthose between Spain and other EU countries. Some differential gendereffects are also found.