Undergraduate student intentions for postgraduate study

Abstract

Little is known of how and when undergraduate students decide to progress to postgraduate studies. This study examined the effect of a single semester on intentions to undertake postgraduate study. The study was conducted twice in two years using approximately 120 students enrolled in a third year Behaviour in Organisations unit at a research-intensive university. Results demonstrated no statistically significant change in students' postgraduate study destination intentions over the semester, despite a typical deliberate encouragement intervention from faculty. As a group, students neither changed their preferences for the type of master's course in which they intended to enrol, nor did they change their preference for postgraduate degree. Implications for future research and for developing a better understanding of this under-researched area are discussed.

Keywords:

• career development
• decision making
• educational research
• management education
• student choice