Using an extended theory of planned behaviour model to investigate students’ intentions to enrol in university

The purpose of this thesis is to further understanding of the factors that predict students’ intentions to enrol at university. There is evidence to suggest that behavioural intention, as it is defined in this study, is an effective proxy measure of future behaviour. 323 Year 12 students from Victoria, Australia participated in 3 distinct, but related, research phases. From these data, two models were formed, the University Proximal Intention Framework (UPIF) and the University Distal Intention Framework (UDIF). Attitude and positive behavioural beliefs were both identified as the most significant predictors of intention in their respective models. This study found mixed results on the predictive capacity of subjective norm, general academic self-concept and ethnicity. Socioecomonic status was a significant predictor of students’ university intentions in both models although its predictive capacity was relatively weak. Perceived behaviour control, mathematic and verbal academic self concepts were not significant predictors of students’ higher education intentions. Collectively, these results have both practical implications for how stakeholders discuss university pathways and theoretical consequences for how researchers explore students’ study-related intentions. The information obtained can guide adoption of policies or interventions designed to foster and promote students’ university intentions.