Background/purpose: This study aims to explain international student mobility within Turkish higher education in terms of the push-pull factors that affect students' choices to attend Turkey based on international students studying at a provincial university in Mugla, Turkey. Materials/methods: The current study was implemented through a qualitative approach originated from the interpretivist paradigm. This qualitative study is a case study, with data collected through semi-structured interviews. Results: The reasons pushing students to study abroad were observed as economic such as due to high unemployment rates in their country of origin; political issues such as a state of war; educational issues such as low quality education; or personal issues such as a wish to experience a different culture. Conclusion: The reasons behind choosing Turkey for higher education were observed to be economic factors such as Turkey's low-cost living; political factors such as bureaucratic regulations being more accommodating for students recognised as refugees; educational factors such as superior quality higher education; and geographical and cultural proximity.