Understanding Erasmus Students‘ Motivation: What Directs Erasmus Students‘ Choice of Destination and Particular Course

This paper is a Central European contribution to the current knowledge of Erasmus students‘ motivations. It takes as its starting point the fact that one of the reasons for studying in a foreign country is learning about different cultures. 30 Erasmus students from 8 European countries, enrolled in Museum Education course in two academic years at the Faculty of Education, University of Ljubljana, participated in the research. The analysis of qualitative data, collected by individual interviews, a focus group and written personal reflections, revealed that, when making specific country and study decisions, students are driven by three motivational factors: discovery, change and curiosity. The research, done from the perspective of cultural heritage, additionally indicated how geography shapes the cultural experience of Erasmus students and what role museum and heritage site visiting play in it.