Influencing Factors for Matriculation Students in Selecting University and Program of Study

Eight percent of students who secure the place in the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment (Fakulti Kejuruteraan dan Alam Bina, FKAB), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 2010/2011 session did not choose to pursue engineering program in their university entrance application forms. This number is quite an alarming number for a profesional studies especially engineering program. Due to this situation, a study on how students make decision in selecting university and program of study at undergraduate level is vital. This paper discusses the factors that influence the matriculation students in choosing university and fields of study for first degree by focusing on the engineering program. The study conducted in the form of questionnaires which had been distributed to the students at the Negeri Sembilan Matriculation College (Kolej Matrikulasi Negeri Sembilan, KMNS) and Malacca Matriculation College (Kolej Matrikulasi Melaka, KMM). Matriculation students were selected as respondents because they are in the position of making decision to enter university. The study indicates that the matriculation students show some dominant factors such as suitability, interest and career opportunity were significantly influence them to choose a university and the field of study. Based on the findings, faculty would be able to develop strategies to improve the students' selection rate in choosing engineering program for the purpose of getting better quality of students. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer reviewed under responsibility of the UKM Teaching and Learning Congress 2011