Nowadays, many higher education institutes (HEIs) organize the Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs) as a common initiative to develop international cooperation with counterparts globally. The objective of this study is to explore students’ perception of services that encourage international mobility of students from HEIs to take part in such BIPs in Europe. We present the results of this exploratory study related to services provided by the institutes involved in BIPs. The data sample of this study is comprised of sixty-one (61) responses to a questionnaire from master’s and bachelor’s students. The student body is from twenty-eight (28) countries including Austria, Estonia, Finland, France, Denmark, Germany, Italy, and Sweden among others. The data was collected as part of three BIPs between October and December of year 2024 at a University of Applied Sciences in Tallinn, Estonia. In line with the objective of the study, the participating students chose the three most relevant services from given twenty-three (23) variables that encourage them to participate in the international mobility. We present the results of the analysis, which show that participating students considered ‘Bigger Financial Support (e.g., increased scholarships, grants, or stipends)’, ‘Options for Internships or Work Placements (e.g., combining academic study with internship opportunities abroad)’, ‘Guidance from past participants (e.g., testimonials, blogs, or presentations from students who have already completed mobility)’, ‘Partnerships with Local Companies (e.g., collaboration with businesses in host countries for internships or work experience)’ and ‘Simpler Application Process (e.g., fewer administrative steps, clearer guidelines)’ as the most relevant services encouraging them to pursue international mobility. Furthermore, the results of the analysis also reveal that some of the respondents chose ‘Administrative Support (e.g., help with insurance, and other legal paperwork)’, ‘Peer Support or Mentoring Programs (e.g., connecting with students who have already been abroad, buddy systems)’, ‘Support for students with special needs (e.g., tailored services for students with disabilities, extra assistance)’, and ‘Academic services that increase the range of knowledge on the study topic: Sustainability and Climate Change’ as relevant services to encourage international mobility to some extent. The results of this study contribute and offer insights related to the services that encourage international student mobility in HEIs in Europe.

Keywords: Services, student mobility, international mobility, blended intensive programmes, higher education institutes, Europe.