Open Access

Tim Geiger, Dennis Schlegel, Jos Höll

• Despite the increasing demand for IT professionals, many potential students remain reluctant to enroll in computer science-oriented degree programmes. While there are a number of previous studies examining specific factors influencing students’ enrollment decisions, there is a lack of a comprehensive synthesis that consolidates these insights across different contexts and methodologies. This study conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) combined with a quantitative meta-analysis to identify and synthesize key factors deterring students from choosing IT-related fields. By analyzing existing research, the study categorizes these deterrents into influential, partly influential, and less influential factors. The most significant barriers include a preference for other majors, perceived unsuitable career prospects, and a lack of interest in IT-related subjects. Additional barriers include perceived difficulty, high workload, and the belief that IT work lacks social interaction. These insights provide valuable guidance for educational institutions, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to develop strategies that enhance interest in computer science programmes.