Detail

Executive Summary

In Ontario’s postsecondary sector, students are increasingly using indirect, nontraditional pathways, which require them to make complex decisions about institutions and programs. However, because much existing research focuses on decisions made by students transitioning directly from high school to postsecondary education, the decision-making processes of mobile students remain relatively underexplored—particularly in the Ontario context. To address this gap, this project examines the key institutional characteristics that mobile students consider (e.g., program offerings and location) and assesses how these characteristics interact with students’ lived experiences. For Ontario postsecondary institutions, understanding how students make transfer decisions can help strengthen transfer-specific supports and programs.