Investment behavior of bachelor level students

Abstract

A study in the investment behaviour of bachelor level students. In the research students were asked to participate in research aiming at investigating their investment behaviour. The questionnaire students filled out was distributed through a mix of digital channels and personally asking students to fill in the questionnaire. The study was of quantitative nature. With changes in the society concerning the pension system among others and the increasing personal debt level investing and saving is a relevant topic. The proposed theory that investment behaviour can be associated with the students field of study. The aim of the thesis is also to research whether student loan is used to fund possible investments. The theoretical part of the dissertation includes the process behind investing and covers the investment horizon, the objective for investing and which investment objective is suitable for the investor. Fundamental information about student financial aid and also a detailed description of the most common Investment objects currently on the market also serves as part of the theory. Statistical significance of research results has been achieved by analysis in statistical programs. Crosstabulation of results to enable comparison and enable calculation of statistical significance has been the main instrument used. Confidence intervals has been calculated for some values. Gender equality of the research has been even and from the research it is clear that most of the respondents has taken out their student loan. From the study it is also clear that respondents with student loan would at least in part be willing to invest their student loan. The majority of the respondents have some form of investments or savings, i.e. respondents have at least in part a financial plan. Further research into the subject could be conducted with a larger sample size leading to an increase in statistical significance and enabling comparison between schools and field of study. The proposed theory of field of study affecting investment behaviour could not be proven due to sample size. No correlation between field of study an investment behaviour could be found.