Student performance in a large first year economics subject : which variables are significant?

The first year experience at university and issues relating to retention rates continue to attract the attention of educationalists. This article investigates the relative importance of a wide range of variables that may impact student performance at the first year level. The multiyear data set covers 2187 students who are enrolled in an introductory economics subject at a major multicampus university. The significant variables detected may assist those currently trying to raise retention rates and raise some questions about the capacity of universities to successfully increase their enrolment rates significantly in the future.