Engagement is considered key in measuring student development, offering valuable clues into the adaptation, motivation and participation of students. This article sheds light on the multifaceted construct of engagement and its implications for first-generation migrant adolescents. Participant interviews and observations were conducted to investigate student experiences of engagement and the utility of engagement in intervention designs. Identified determinants of engagement consist of cultural capital, school norms and values, teacher-student relationships and relevance of support services. The results show that engagement goes beyond individual dispositions and achievement and includes learning environments and resources. Keeping in mind the vulnerable position of migrants and the need to ensure equal educational opportunity, a reshaping of engagement-related support services, interventions and school practices is needed.