This paper examines why postgraduate students in the UK decide to take up a further degree, the factors influencing their choice of programme and institution and the sources of information consulted. The study is based on a literature review, other sources of information and primary research with students at one institution. Based on responses from 102 current students the analysis reveals that improvement of career prospects was the prime motivator for studying a postgraduate qualification, allied to a desire to gain or update skills to become more employable. Students also chose to study for their own personal satisfaction. For the university in question, accreditation of some programmes was a deciding factor influencing their choice of institution. The reputation of the university and its location were also important. Various sources of information were referred to but the use of faculty and tutors as ‘salespeople’ had significant impact. Managerial implications for universities and directions for further research complete the paper. Copyright © 2004 Henry Stewart Publications

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This article explores the role of information in high risk consumer decision making. Forty-two qualitative interviews were undertaken with international non-EU postgraduates when making the high risk decision to study in a UK Business School. Prospective international postgraduates moved iteratively through the stages in Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process model and learnt from the search process they had undertaken in a continuous cyclical manner. Word-of-mouth recommendations were the most influential sources of information gathered, and online sources were perceived to be credible regardless of their origins. The perception of risk impacted the rigour of the information search process. An iterative decision making cycle model is proposed with Kuhlthau’s model and word of mouth information at its core, which reflects the connectedness of individuals in this digital era. This study provides new insights by combining both marketing and LIS models and extends Kuhlthau’s research into a new context.