Factors Influencing Students’ Decision to Enrol in Higher Learning Institutions: Case of Bachelor Students from the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences—Rwanda

Education is a human right and its benefits have made it to be among human basic needs. As tertiary education is concerned, several studies have indicated the need for personal development, career enhancement, career switching, need to meet environmental conditions as the leading factors in influencing a considerable number of people to join higher learning institutions (HLIs). Recent reports on Rwanda higher education have shown a lot of changes in administration and students’ participation rates. The number of HLIs has increased remarkably and Students’ enrolment grew from 751 students in 1972 to 86,140 in 2019. However, little attention has been put on the factors behind such an influx of enrolment at HILs. This study, therefore, aims to investigate the factors influencing students’ decision to enrol in HLIs with a consideration of gender, age, marital status and mode of attendance. It followed a case study design. The primary data were gathered from a proportional sample of 228 out of 1539 students enrolled in three faculties at the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences during the academic year 2018/19. The researchers used a questionnaire tested with a Cronbach’s alpha equals to 0.812. Data were analysed by use of descriptive statistics and t-testing. The findings validated previous studies and revealed environment and job based factors as key factors influencing students’ decision to enrol at tertiary education. The study findings suggest consideration of students ‘motivations to join HLI in the process of organizing teaching, learning and assessment process as well as programme development.