Successful completion of undergraduate study: Key influences

The main purpose of this research was to examine student attrition in undergraduate study and the reasons students withdraw in their first year of study, within the Faculty of Business and the Faculty of Education at a regional university in Australia. Rather than being the result of academic weakness on the part of the student, the study suggested that non-completion is generally the result of a complex range of factors. It was also found that students studying by distance mode were more likely to withdraw from study compared to those studying as on-campus students. The study began by reviewing the literature on withdrawal and concluded that each university must understand the experiences of its own students if it is to address student attrition. Both qualitative and quantitative research were conducted to identify the key factors that influence a student to withdraw from study during the first year. Of particular interest were findings with respect to mode of entry, interaction whilst studying, dependents, workload, and age at entry.