This was a descriptive survey involving four South African higher education (HE) institutions. Specifically, the study sought to critically investigate factors that could explain enrolment patterns in universities and technikons. The findings indicated that the choices of the institutions were mainly made by the respondents themselves, based on their career preferences. Affordability and other financial considerations did not come out as a major factor in the ultimate choice of the institution by respondents from historically white institutions (HWIs). However, this was a major point of consideration for respondents from historically black institutions (HBIs). Furthermore, accessibility to financial aid did appear to be a major factor for all respondents. Other determining factors included the public image of the institution of choice; the perceived quality of staff; institutional stability; teaching resources and other facilities available to students; administrative efficiency (including the friendliness of staff); the operational and instructional language of the institution; admissions and course registration processes and procedures; fairness in the allocation of facilities and other resources; and physical appearance/attractiveness of the institutions. However, catering services did not come out as a critical factor in attracting students to the institutions. K E Y W O R D S declining enrolments, South African Higher Education Institutions

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