Dissertation (MA Educational Management and Administration)This study investigated the perceived influence of background characteristics on career choice among undergraduate students in Tanzania. The motivation to undertake the study stemmed from the need to understand the characteristics that influence career choices for undergraduate students in Tanzania. The study was guided by four objectives, which were toi) examine the influence of individual characteristics on career choices, ii) investigate the effect of family characteristics on making career choices, iii) examine the effect of school characteristics on making career choices, and iv) examine the influence of peers on career choices. The study employed a quantitative research approach to generate data from 185 undergraduate students from one Public University in central Tanzania. A cross-sectional research design was used to generate data through questionnaires. Data were analyzed by binary logistics regression model. The findings revealed that family characteristics and peers have a strong influence on career choice among undergraduate students. Further, schools have effects on students' career choice albeit they lacked proper programmes to help students when they have confusions about career choice. Although these factors were largely ignored, students’ individual characteristics defined by interests, capabilities, and talents have a strong influence on students’ career choice compared to other factors. Generally, the study concluded that students had low exposure to programmes related to their careers and this made them to seek advice from their friends close to them and graduates who had experience with the university environment. The study recommends that career guidance should start at the family level by identifying children's talents and interests. There should be career guidance and counseling programmes from primary school level to expand knowledge and awareness for suitable career choices. Likewise, peer’s advice should be guided by career guidance counselors and parents to help undergraduate students to have proper career choices. It is recommended that the government should develop teachers’ capacity for career guidance on guiding students on proper career choices.