Student Dropout in Higher Education: Exploring the Reasons Behind Student Attrition in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Reducing tertiary education dropout rates is a critical concern for higher education institutions (HEI) due to its significant social, financial, and personal implications. This study aims to initiate region-specific and national research by presenting, for the first time, an insight of reasons of higher education attrition in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) based on primary data. The data, collected from one of the public universities in the country, encompass students who withdrew voluntarily between 2007 and 2019. A survey of 96 undergraduate students who discontinued their studies reveals that approximately one-third of the dropouts could have been prevented, as they were linked to institutional factors. Among the identified reasons—private, institutional, financial, and pedagogical—the primary cause of attrition was disputes or conflicts with faculty members. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve faculty-student relationships and address institutional shortcomings to enhance retention.