THE MOTIVATION OF STUDENTS TO CHOOSE TERTIARY EDUCATION IN HUNGARY AND SERBIAN VOJVODINA

The students motives of enrolment to tertiary educational institutions crucially influence their academic achievement and behaviour during studies. This research focuses on the Hungarian students' reasons for choosing university in Hungary and in Serbian Vojvodina: whether they decide on their own or are influenced by other factors. The quantitative research also examines whether there is valid similarity or difference between the tertiary educational decisions of Hungarian people and those living in a neighboring country as the latter share a lot of common roots with their mother country. The results show that there are similarities between the choices of young people from both areas, regardless of their mother country. Young people typically seem to choose further education on their own, and their surroundings or material considerations are only secondary motivational factors in their decision. However, it is also true that direct social factors and financial conditions have a considerable impact on whether they can actually acquire their diplomas.