| dc.description.abstract | The objective of this study was to examine the impact of bursaries on the persistence of
undergraduate students in public universities in Kenya. The motivation was to examine
the adequacy of the current bursary awards and hence make policy recommendations
based on the results.
The study employed an empirical methodology in which other known determinants were
included in the model. The data covered four academic years starting from 2008/2009 to
2011/2012. All undergraduate students who received bursaries over the sample period
from all public universities were analyzed. Firstly, correlation analysis was employed.
Secondly, regression analysis was done. Lastly, the principal component analysis was
done.
The results of the correlation analysis showed that persistence is positively related to the
bursary award, and accumulated debt but negatively related to the duration of the degree
program enrolled by the student. The regression analysis shows that bursary, student
loans, parents‟ education, occupation and income, and the duration of the degree program
have a significant impact on undergraduate student persistence in public universities.
There is a positive and statistically significant relationship between bursaries and the
student loans. However, there is a negative and significant relationship between
persistence and parents‟ education, parents‟ occupation and parents‟ income, and the
minimum duration of the degree program.
Principal component analysis revealed that bursaries, student loans, the level of education
and occupation of the mother, the level of education and occupation of the father and the
minimum duration of the degree program as the main determinants of persistence | en |
