The persistent gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is often attributed to differences in students' confidence in their own academic abilities (i.e. self-efficacy). Yet, the role of self-efficacy in mediating gender differences in STEM attrition is unclear. To address this issue, we analyse administrative register…

Social mobility, and in particular, intergenerational mobility, can be driven by increased opportunities for extended education. Movement beyond a family's social class will often see positive changes to overall life satisfaction, however, this movement can introduce feelings of alienation. This in turn can lead to detachment either from the…

This article discusses the research question 'Which characteristics of social behavior and attitudes are embedded in the latent orientation of supervision practices in doctoral education and training?' based on socialization theory (Grundmann, M. 2006. "Sozialisation: Skizze einer allgemeinen Theorie." Konstanz: UVK). These latent…

As higher education has made the transition from elite to mass enrolments, the student body has become more diverse and online and blended learning have become more common. This study aimed to examine the impacts on attrition of admitting a more diverse student body with the shift towards online and blended learning. A hypothesised path model of…

The previous two decades have seen much improvement in the first-year experience of students attending university. Yet for a significant proportion of students, coping with university study remains challenging. This is particularly the case for those students entering university with low tertiary admission scores. Although the higher education…

This study examines whether tutors (N?=?15) in a problem-based learning curriculum were able to predict students' success in their first year and their entire bachelor programme. Tutors were asked to rate each student in their tutorial group in terms of the chance that this student would successfully finish their first year and the entire…

Despite numerous supports for undergraduates, low success rate has been a growing concern in the South African university system. Guided by Moore's [1993. "Theory of Transactional Distance." In "Theoretical Principles of Distance Education," edited by Keegan, 22-38. London: Routledge.] transactional distance theory, this…

The retention of students presents a challenge to approved education institutions (AEIs) globally. Nursing student attrition is of particular concern owing to the high non-completion rates and financial costs. A survey approach was used in an AEI in the north of England to explore the views of five cohorts of pre-registration student nurses on…

In the face of difficult economic circumstances, increased competition and student diversity, attrition and retention have become issues of great significance to higher education institutions seeking to survive. A large body of work has explored the relationship between attrition and the first-year experience, but there has been little focus on…

Central in this study is the role of student variables and the fit between secondary education and university education in the explanation of first-year student achievement. The fit between two levels of education can be defined in different ways. In this study the focus is on four fit-aspects: appropriateness of expectations, and the degree to…

Growing concerns about retention and attrition rates in a mass and increasingly marketised higher education system have encouraged the idea that "meeting learner needs" should be a key focus for institutional attention. It is suggested that this approach is unrealistic, however, because of the extent of the diversity which it attempts to…

Statistical analysis of a sample of the 1979 entry cohort to Lancaster University indicates that the likelihood of non-completion is determined by various characteristics including the student's academic ability, gender, marital status, work experience prior to university, school background, and location of home in relation to university.…

The influence of social background, sex and intelligence on the utilization of study assistance in Sweden and the influence of all these variables on degree completion among students in higher education are investigated. The groups studied were two nationally representative samples of individuals born in 1948 and 1953. (Author/MLW)