DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS INFLUENCING GRADUATE PROGRAMME COMPLETION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA

Abstract

Higher education institutions worldwide face the challenge of reversing the downward trend in programme completion and graduation rates. This paper explores students’ perception of influences on timely and delayed graduate programme completion in the Botswana context. This correlational research involved a sample of 155 participants drawn from the 2014 and 2015 cohorts of graduate students at the University of Botswana. Participants completed a questionnaire requesting sociodemographic information and data on facilitators and barriers related to timely and delayed degree programme completion. Logistic regression was used for data analysis. The statistically significant predictor variables were age group, study mode, sponsorship, and students’ attributes. The results point to a number of policy and practical interventions for boosting graduate students’ success and completion rates.