2.6.

4 Prospectus
According to Oxford dictionaries, a prospectus stands a printed booklet providing
details to potential parents or students regarding a university or colleges details. A prospective
usually can be informative catalogue that contain the university background and course offered
by the relevant university or college. Nowadays, prospectus can get by buying a hardcopy or
students can download their interested undergraduate program of the university prospectus
through online. We probably find that each college or university has its own prospectus and
website as well (Oxford-royale.co.uk, 2014).
Prospectus is a guide for applicants for degree programmes who intend to enter the
university in the coming academic year, and it has been produced as early as possible for this
purpose. Inevitably, the matters covered are subject to change from time to time, although every
effort is made to ensure that information is accurate and up-to-date in the prospectus. A good
dissertation prospectus is clear and concise, and accessible to all scholars engaged in the
academic study of religion (Bu.edu, 2016).
The prospectus of University Of Malaya (UM) 2012/2013 session, comprising briefly
introduction to the history of the university, facilities and services, objective of academic and
programmes offered, learning outcome, programme duration, entry and language requirement. In
the prospectus of the University of Nottingham (2016), there are information regarding to the
programme can study abroad and comprised of many branch of university around the world.
There are also foundation programme, science programme, engineering programme and art
programme offered in this university. The university also provide the best facilities to emphasize
on sports programme to achieve students potential. Besides that, the prospectus of Taylor
University (2016) have different types of prospectus that the programmed offered by university.
If the student achieve excellent in their STPM/SPM, they can apply the scholarship by reaching
some apply requirements.
Nowadays, since the technology is so advanced and everything can easy get through
online. Students who stay far away from certain destination may get the clearer information
regarding their choice of institution and courses they interested without going to the respective
campus. Prospectus provides the basic information to students so that they can make decision
critically.

2.6.5 University Open Day

University open day is a day which university allows the public to visit the campus and
know more about the courses and activities offers by the institutions. University open day is a
great opportunity for students who seek for continuing their tertiary study to come and collect
useful information directly from the university. University open day is a chance for anyone who
is interested in undergraduate and postgraduate study. It also can lead prospective student more
clearly to make their higher education decision.

Open Days are becoming increasingly influential on how students make decisions.
(YouthSight.com, 2014) stated that, in Higher Expectations 2007/08, a little over a third (37 per
cent) of prospective students rated the open day as very important in their decision on where to
study. By 2013/14, this had reached almost half (47 per cent). Visitors will use this chance and
opportunity to find out more about courses and research in the university's faculties of
Accounting, Computing & Humanities; Business; Health & Education; and Science &
Engineering (University of Greenwich, 2015). Students can use this opportunity to find out more
about the programs they are interest with by talking to staff who teaching the course and
university student to get a better idea of their interest with.
Beside, the advantages for attending university open day are students can get more
information about their courses, the university facilities provided, explore the local area, and if
possible can make a new friends on that day (Apply to Uni, 2016). Students can visit the
campus, know about student accommodation, admission, participate in interview workshops,
meet academic staff and get advice on university applications. This can be considering as a
good time to ask about the course selection and the life of the university is like. It is so
important for students to ensure they make a right decision on choosing course and institution.
After attending open day, students can follow up with some extra research and think carefully
about what they want to learn. Students can seek their career advisor, having discussion with
their family or industry professional (Gooduniversitiesguide.com, 2016).

2.6.6Newspaper features

Information is an important element in every sector of life, newspapers are a vital source
of information in enlightened societies; providing the most recent information to readers. The
newspapers are the textbooks that provide up to date information on local, state, national and
world affairs, the most current analysis and criticism (Webpages.uidaho.edu, 2016). So, the
newspaper was a significant agent influencing the students choice of major.
In addition, newspaper also plays a very important role for the information sources to
students for making decision to continue tertiary study. The strength of newspapers comes from
aggregating an audience by offering a wide range of information (journalism.org). The influence of
the family on determining the choice of major among the students, mass media also showed
significant positive influence (Academia.edu, 2016).
Newspapers particularly have provided extensive and extremely useful education
content (Chris, 2012). We can see that a university of information from newspapers even bad
news or good news, it may influencing undergraduate students' choice decision of higher
education. Although nowadays the usage of electronic devices is popular in promoting
something, however most of the universities are not give up by using the method of advertising
through newspaper because some of the parents are not familiar with using internet. People can
read newspapers from judgment about the relevance information to their goal based on various
criteria (Soo and Hilligoss, 2008). Newspaper feature may advertised their courses offered and
the activities of the institution which may include the facilities available, ways to contact the
institution, students achievement and notable alumni.

2.6.7 University web site

Nowadays, university website is an innovative way of communicating with prospective

student, to inform and advise them while managing their expectations of higher education
(Jisc.ac.uk, 2010). Since the technology today is so advance and effective to use, the university
create their own website, consist of attractive and clearly understood and useful information on
such characteristics of the university. Some student shows their trust on the university website
based on their satisfaction. In this technology era, students are familiar by using the internet. Its
a big part of their lives, and many students expect colleges to use social media to attract them.
They could seek more information from examining website to continue their tertiary study by
make a comparison with others university.
Furthermore, university website has useful to students which are come from outland are
able to do selection through internet without visit the university. Universities are using their
website to share their campus culture with prospective students and their parents. Student can
now connect with a schools campus closely with the power of social media. When searching for
a university website, student can find out the information and the course offer of that university.
Using the power of different networks and engaging content, schools are using social media to
attract undergraduate student (Doug, 2013).
Social media has been key for us and has been a great audience connector not only with
prospective students but with prospective parents (Doug, 2013). Websites should be easy to
navigate, include correct and targeted information, written for prospective and current students,
with pictures and videos displaying students experience of the university. The use of the internet
by searching university website has increased among students in the decision making process
and selection of university by potential students. Private-owned colleges shows a positive
result in spending an average of $2,073 to recruit each new student, which making proficiency in
communicating and enrolling a major goal for colleges and universities in year 2005 (Kurt, et al,
2005).

2.6.8 League Tables

League table is a set of statistics used to compare the performance ranking of higher
education institutions or programmes of study. University league table usually include the
proportion of graduates with excellent degree, entry standard, staff number, staff research
scores, teaching scores and student satisfaction, graduate employment and university spending.
It is a helpful indicator of how students rate the important elements of their university. We
believe that league tables influence parents and teachers and other people who might be
advising students. Most of the universities generally like to use league tables to market their
university (Thestudentroom.co.uk, 2016). League tables do affect undergraduate students who
are moving straight into full-time higher education. Many school-leavers get hooked on the idea
that League Tables can help them choose a University and a course (Thestudentroom.co.uk,
2016).
On the other hand, university league table is used to create and rank out universities for
student choice and compare based on these significances (Gill, 2015). Most of the students will
rely on the league table which offers some useful information which may help the students to get
information regarding the universities. Looking at the league tables, students choose institutions
nationally from across the UK based on the subject of the course on offer and ratings of the
quality of the university's staff, teaching, research and general facilities (Theguardian.com,
2005).
The university league table is good to inform students an overall view of the
universities. Students can refer to the league table to decide what the most important factor is to
them in choosing university. Some students might more interest on student facilities such as
sport facilities or choosing the right degree course and get a good result so that they will get
employed in future. There is the connection between university league tables, student choice of
university and university facilities. A main purpose of UK university league tables is to help and
enlighten prospective undergraduate students choices (Rebecca, 2015). Most of the students
will consider wide range of factors and utilize wide range of league table of information in
making their decision in choosing institutions and course. Students are able to get the ranking of
university and select the university which reaches their requirement.

2.6.9 Peer influence

Peer influences have shown to be important on several educational outcomes including
college enrolment, majority of college choice and join with community. Peer influence is an
important aspect of college choice for undergraduate student. Peer group can influence students
choices in course and institution by the way of information, competition and persuasion. Many
factors might affect the career selection of the students, however one of the other factors can be
narrowed down peer group (Hezlina and Abdul, 2015).
In addition, friendship and educational choice provides a unique insight into how young
people go about making decisions about their educational options and the subtle, influence of
friends and peers on these processes. Peer influence and its social psychological and behavioral
links to students education decision making and subsequent achievements (Spencer.org, 2016).
The impact of peers on educational decisions and the reciprocal influences that such decisions
may exert on young people's friendships helps us to understand the significance and impact of
educational choice in the wider lives of young people. The data of the relationship between peer
influence and educational decisions made by young people was increasingly popular higher
education choice (Spencer.org, 2016).
Most of the students after graduated from secondary school, they are confused in
choosing the course for their future career. So, most of the students will probably base on the
wishes of peer group or their parents. Peer influence appears to be a powerful force affecting
educational choices and whether students undertake important investments that could improve
academic performance or outcomes (Guillermo, Watson and Ewers, 2014). We also found that,
among students who say it is important to be popular, they were less likely to take advantage in
their higher education choice, but among students who dont care about popularity it made no
difference one way or the other. Bursztyn and Jensen say that changing either norms or peers is
likely to be quite difficult, particularly on a large scale, but that its easier to change the extent
to which behaviors are observable by peers (Guillermo, Watson and Ewers, 2014).

2.6.10 Word of Mouth

Word of mouth (WOM) is defined as the passing information and share from one person
to another person whether by talking or through some other medium. Internet communication,
especially social networking, is a significant part of modern WOM marketing in nowadays. Any
organization that can encourage people to spread information about a product, a cause, or the
organization itself can use word-of-mouth marketing (Marketing-schools.org, 2016)
The actively WOM is very important factor of undergraduate students' choice decision
making. It plays a significant role in determining students educational preferences and can
increase student enrolments in an institution (Marketing-schools.org, 2016). Although the
universities spend a lot of effort in advertising and marketing, but the most influential power
effect to students in making decision is word of mouth. Having a better understanding of WOM
formation helps education institution managers focus on the right antecedents, which are
functional service quality, satisfaction and affective commitment, and then WOM will all be
positively influenced.
Moreover, Word-of-Mouth has a significant effect on student behaviour and particular
influence on student's choice of university (Lut.fi, 2016). Processing of information obtained via
WOM has a key impact on attitude formation in the target group. Informative arguments and
energetic and positive information should be offered simultaneously. This combination should be
a particular focus with regard to complex choice criteria. Students are most likely to rely on
personal experiences from the word of mouth rather than the university advertisement. We can
say that word of mouth is one of the tools which is more significant than traditional
advertisement for promoting organization or business. Therefore word of mouth shows vital role
in decision making among students since they can made the comparison and priority with other
institutions.

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