Purpose – In recent years, youth unemployment has increased very quickly and intensely in Portugal, namely regarding the higher education qualified workforce. This scenario, in addition to the existing poor statistics that reflects this phenomenon were the switch for this pioneering research in Portugal that aims to discuss and to understand the outlines of this highly qualified migration; and to test the comprehensive power of the theses on which brain drain has been analysed: the model of the Exodus vs the model of the Diaspora. Design/methodology/approach – The research strategy is suitable to the characteristics of an exploratory study that allows to enunciate questions and hypotheses that can be studied in later steps of the research. Articulating an extensive research with an in-depth analysis we seek to identify the subjectivity of the direct actors of emigration in some of its main working contexts. We use a mixed strategy which makes use of multilateral technical quantitative and qualitative data collection: questionnaire surveys; life stories; and interviews with focus groups. Originality/value – This is a pioneering study in Portugal with relevant information for higher education institutions and policy makers. The study puts in evidence the importance of higher education institutions and policy makers learn from the results and testimonies collected. Furthermore, this research will contribute to a better understanding of the brain drain, helping to fill a gap in migration studies. Practical implications – From a practical point of view, the findings from the questionnaire, applied to a sample of skilled Portuguese emigrants in Europe, will allow to know the socio-economic and cultural background of these graduates; the reasons that led them to emigrate: the reasons that would make or not make them to return to Portugal; its employment status, career and remuneration in the host country; among others. All these results are supplemented by interviews with a wide range of interviewed, drawing a set of life stories.
