The purpose of this study is to explore the information needs of graduate students, the sources they use and the factors that influence their choice of information sources before studying abroad.
This study targets graduate students who completed their undergraduate degrees at the University of Dhaka. Due to the difficulty in obtaining a comprehensive sampling frame, convenience sampling was used to reach graduates from various departments and institutes within the university. The researcher distributed 850 questionnaires, and 313 students completed them, indicating their interest in studying abroad. The response rate was 36.82%, and data was collected between July and December 2024.
The study found that the majority of graduate who aim to study abroad need financial information, particularly tuition fees, living costs and available scholarships. The most common sources of information used by students were Web search engines. Students placed high trust in official university websites and considered them the most reliable for information on admissions and funding opportunities. Apart from trust, accessibility and ease of use were critical factors influencing students’ choice of information sources. In addition, visa requirements and immigration policies were key considerations in students’ decision-making process, as these factors directly impacted their ability to study abroad.
Several studies have conducted students’ use of information for everyday life and academic purposes abroad. However, few have focused on information needs and sources prior to studying abroad. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind in the context of Bangladesh.
