For many young people, studying abroad is a gateway to the world – the opportunity to learn languages, become immersed in different cultures, and learn in a new environment. While the majority of these students return home, for a select few, the experience of studying abroad becomes the foundation of a long-term migration journey. In this talk, I will take an extended look at such journeys, drawing on years of conversation with international students who chose to stay and build a life in the UK and Japan after finishing their studies. I will focus on how these students’ journeys unfolded over time, and share insights into how their priorities, strategies, and trajectories evolved throughout. Finally, I will introduce an upcoming project that seeks to further unpack universities’ roles in supporting such journeys, and critically analyse how and to what effect higher education institutions are now responsible for supporting their students’ opportunities to migrate.