The impact of distance deterrence on the choice of field of study in vocational education in The Netherlands

We utilize a unique dataset of more than 15,500 first-year students in upper secondary vocational education of a particular region in the Netherlands, and estimate the impact of commuting distance on the choice of a field of study. Using logistic regression analysis we estimate the probability that students choose for a study in the field of engineering, economics or health & welfare. In general we find that our expectations with respect to the effect of distance deterrence on the choice of field of study come true. If the commuting distance to the nearest or the nearest-but-one school location offering a particular field of study increases then the probability that students choose for that field diminishes. As for the nearest-but-two school location offering a particular field of study, we find that commuting distance sometimes has a positive correlation with the choice for a field of study. This may imply that more remote school locations can be more attractive for students for reasons of quality of education or good accessibility by public transport. Moreover, we find that an increasing distance to a school location of one field of study may increase the probability to choose for another field of study. This result demonstrates that it is not just the distance to one particular school location that matters. We therefore conclude that the whole educational infrastructure within a region matters for the choice of a particular field of study.