Factors influencing choice of study disciplines

• Main Authors: Lim, Kuan Meng, Lim, Mui Lai, Nur Hidayani Ibrahim
• Other Authors: Leong Sheng Chow
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: DRNTU::Business::General::Education
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/63757
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Several studies have identified various factors influencing the career choices of students from the 4 professional disciplines of Accountancy, Medicine, Law and Engineering. One of these is Leong & Sng (1989) which was done on local students in 1989. The focus of this study is twofold: firstly, to analyse the reasons underlying an undergraduate's selection of his discipline from the 4 professional study programmes available; and secondly, to compare the results obtained currently with those by Leong & Sng ( 1989) to further investigate if there are any changes in influence. A total of 446 Accountancy, 451 Engineering, 86 Law and 58 Medicine first year undergraduates' responses were used in our analyses. A similar survey was administered to third-year Accountancy undergraduates. Data was collected through questionnaires distributed at the end of lectures for the various faculties. Only students who choose their course as their first preference were considered. The Test-of-Hypothesis was carried out on these data. The findings revealed that all students are generally concerned with the availability of employment, future earning potential, job satisfaction that may be obtained and aptitude for the subject matter in their selection of their course of study. Majority of them made their choices after completing their pre-university education, with the exception of medical students. We also found that there are no significant changes in influence in the current batch of students' choice as compared to those in 1989.