Factors affecting the intention to study abroad for a Master's degree after graduation of UEH University Students

Abstract

Purpose of the study: In today’s globalized world, higher education plays a key role in preparing individuals to become global citizens. Therefore, studying for a master’s degree abroad after graduating from university is always a topic of interest and consideration for students. Pursuing a master’s degree in a new country and at a high-quality institution can help improve skills and increase salary potential, but at the same time, there are challenges that may hinder students’ plans to study overseas. This paper is written to explore “Factors affecting the intention to study abroad for a master’s degree after graduation of UEH University students”. Methods: To explore the research topic, the questionnaire was constructed based on relevant literature and distributed to 200 UEH students via a 5-point Likert scale on Google Forms. After data cleaning, 192 valid responses were analyzed by SPSS 26 and AMOS 24. The analysis included descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s Alpha, EFA, CFA and SEM to assess model and variable relationships. Result: The research showed that Intention to Study Abroad for a Master’s Degree (I) is influenced by Attitude (A), Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC), Linguistic Proficiency (L) and Academic Environment (ENV). However, the factors including Subjective norms (SB) and Risk perception (RP) are not significant predictors. Conclusion: The research indicated that the Academic environment is the most significant influence on students’ intention to study abroad for their master’s degree, besides attitude, linguistic proficiency and perceived behavioral control. To encourage the pursuit of a master’s degree at foreign universities, the research team proposed several recommendations for educational institutions based on the study’s findings