Understanding the Decision-Making Processes of International College Students Who Have Chosen to Study in Ontario

• In Event: Hilton Roundtable Session 18
  In Roundtable Session: International Study Abroad

Abstract

This qualitative research seeks to identify the decision-making factors and to explore the sources of information used by international students who attend Ontario colleges of applied arts of technology (CAATs). Fifty-five international students at four Toronto CAATs were interviewed. The decision-making model developed by Bohman (2010) was used to outline the participants’ decision-making trajectory. The theoretical framework for the study is based on three theories: push and pull, human capital, and status attainment. The findings reveal that international college students rely heavily on educational agents, recruiters, relatives, and friends in their decision-making process. The main reason they chose Canada is its student-friendly immigration policy. Low tuition fees and the practical nature of a college education are also significant pull factors.

Authors

• Hayfa Jafar, University of Toronto

• Oleg Legusov, University of Toronto