A place for STEM: Probing the reasons for undergraduate course choices

Abstract

In this chapter we examine the role of place in the course choice decision-making process and propose it as a means of mediating social life in one English university case. After an examination of the geographical, sociological and psychological concept of place, we present the context of the research together with the literature on decision-making in higher education. Having established the impact of place, we look at the potential meaning the concept has for prospective higher education students since it may impact on both choice of university to attend and choice of undergraduate degree programme. Finally, we address the role of place in the decision-making of a group (n = 33) of first-year undergraduate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and non-STEM students, analysing the student articulations of place to consider the importance and significance of place in their decision-making process.