Academic Identity Development and Career Decision Self-Efficacy Among Undergraduate Students in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Academic identity is a psychologically significant construct shaping students' engagement with their studies and their confidence in making career decisions, yet it remains underexplored within Northern Nigerian university populations. This study investigated the relationship between academic identity development and career decision self-efficacy among undergraduate students at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, North West Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was used, with 380 students selected through stratified random sampling across seven faculties. The Academic Identity Measure (AIM) and the Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (CDSES-SF) were administered. Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and independent samples t-tests were used for analysis. Findings revealed a significant positive relationship between academic identity strength and career decision self-efficacy. Students who demonstrated foreclosed or achieved academic identity statuses showed the highest career decision self-efficacy scores, while those in diffusion demonstrated the lowest. Faculty of study moderated the relationship, with science students demonstrating stronger academic identity-to-career efficacy translation compared to social science students. Gender did not significantly moderate the relationship. The study contributes to identity and career development theory in the ABU context and recommends that university counselling services incorporate identity exploration modules within career guidance programming to strengthen the identity-career efficacy link. Keywords: academic identity, career decision self-efficacy, undergraduates, Ahmadu Bello University, career development.