Abstract: Introduction: Multiprofessional residency (MR) is a postgraduate program which brings together graduates from diverse areas of health. It is a model of in-service learning. The objective of this study was to investigate the motivational factors behind the candidates’ decision to choose the MR program of a university located in the Vale of Itajaí - SC. Method: For this research a mixed, quantitative and qualitative approach was used, applying questionnaires to undergraduate students and interviews with second year residents. The entire study sample was composed of 123 undergraduate students in the final semester of the Psychology, Physical Education, Physiotherapy, Speech Language Pathology, Medicine, Nursing and Nutrition courses: 81 respondents were not interested in MR and 42 were interested in participating in the program. Data from the questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics (simple and relative frequency). A further eight student residents were interviewed. The contents of the interviews were submitted to content analysis. Results: It was found that 62% of the participants seek the residency program as a form of professional training, 21% are interested in working in Collective Health/SUS (Unifed Health Service), another 19% of the participants reported an interest in participating in the residency because of multiprofessional work. Conclusion: The content analysis indicates that residents perceive the task of operating within the public health system as a challenge due to the lack of manpower, instrumental devices coupled with saturated demand and interpersonal relationships with colleagues in other specialties. As motivational factors for their entry into the multiprofessional residency program students cited the professional experience, interest in Collective Health/SUS and social commitment. The presence of professionals who are a reference in collective health also emerged as an important motivational aspect in professional choosing to move into this field. The results of this study reinforce the importance of the role of the multiprofessional residency in vocational training aimed geared toward collective health care.