An explanatory model of the intention to continue studying among non-traditional university students.

BACKGROUND Although academic achievement is believed to be an important factor in students' decision to continue studying at university, research on this topic is limited. METHOD The current study analyzed the relationship between academic achievement and the intention of 327 non-traditional students to continue studying at university, using a path model. RESULTS The central hypothesis of the study was confirmed, as the intention to continue studying was determined by previous academic results, although the amount of variance explained was relatively low (13%). CONCLUSIONS The results from this study indicate that the intention to continue studying at university depends less than expected on the performance achieved. So, universities should consider other variables such as the quality of the academic support offered to these students continue their studies.