RIYADH: A majority of Saudi students prefer engineering specialties to other disciplines in technical and professional training programs, a public opinion poll regarding the preferences of secondary school students in the Kingdom has revealed.

Female students on the other hand prefer technical disciplines related to computers, as well as beauty and fashion subjects, local media reported on Monday, quoting the findings.

The study, conducted by a foreign company in collaboration with the General Association for Technical and Vocational Training, shows that the main preference for high school students is aircraft maintenance, followed by a number of technical disciplines such as electrical and appliance maintenance, civil engineering, and mechanics.

The study, which polled a number of male and female students in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Hail and Taif, revealed that Saudi girls prefer to take on computer science, cosmetics, and fashion design specialties after high school.

The study also points to a notable increase in the number of male and female students who wish to join technical and vocational training programs after high school due to its shorter duration.