Factors Influencing Undergraduate Final Year Project Idea Selection: A Comprehensive Review for IT and CS Students

Abstract

This study sought to identify and categorize factors influencing undergraduate students' Final Year Project (FYP) idea selection in Information Technology (IT) and Computer Science (CS) fields. The study adopted a systematic approach, analyzing relevant literature post-2010 from various databases. The review scrutinized factors under three primary categories: student, supervisor and environment. Eight articles were selected for analysis based on their relevance to IT and CS. Factors were categorized based on recurring themes and their frequencies were examined and presented in detailed tables. Student-centered factors (58.5%) prominently influenced project idea selection, with Student Interest, Future Ambition and Mastering English Language being noteworthy. Supervisor-centered factors (14.6%), such as Supervisor’s Area of Interest and environment-centered factors (26.8%), including Availability of Literature influenced project selection. The study concludes that institutions should prioritize strategies to enhance student-centered factors, supporting interests, future ambitions and language proficiency.