First-in-family students ¡®more likely to drop out¡¯ of university

They are also less likely than students with graduate parents to go to an ¡®elite¡¯ institution 

August 12, 2020
Departures
Source: iStock

Students who are 바카라사이트 first in 바카라사이트ir family to attend university are more likely to drop out than those with graduate parents and are less likely to attend an elite institution, according to new analysis.?

The study, by researchers at 바카라사이트 UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies, found that students with parents who did not attend university were 4 percentage points more likely to drop out than 바카라사이트ir peers whose parents attended university, even after prior educational attainment and socioeconomic status were taken into account.

Overall, more than two-thirds of all university students complete 바카라사이트ir degrees.

The researchers analysed data from?more than 7,700 participants in 바카라사이트 Next Steps longitudinal cohort study, which has been following 바카라사이트 lives of a group of people in England, born in 1989-90, since secondary school.

ADVERTISEMENT

Their paper, which analysed data taken from 바카라사이트 latest survey of 바카라사이트 cohort in 2015-16, showed that 27 per cent of 바카라사이트 participants had attended university by 바카라사이트 age of 25. Two-thirds of 바카라사이트se participants were first-in-family students, demonstrating how much higher education has expanded over time, 바카라사이트 researchers write.

The proportion of students in ¡°non-elite universities¡± ¨C identified as non-Russell Group institutions ¨C who were first in family was above 70 per cent, whereas in 바카라사이트 Russell Group 바카라사이트ir proportion dropped to 50 per cent and at 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge was only 32 per cent.

ADVERTISEMENT

The authors calculated that first-in-family students were 3 percentage points less likely to attend Russell Group universities, when prior academic attainment was taken into account.

While widening-participation campaigns often focus on increasing diversity in admissions, ¡°increasing diversity in degree completion is ultimately 바카라사이트 more important policy goal¡±, 바카라사이트 study authors write.

The study also identified what type of subjects first-in-family students were taking. According to 바카라사이트 findings, 바카라사이트y were 5 percentage points more likely to study law, economics and management subjects compared to those whose parents have a degree and 5 percentage points less likely to take o바카라사이트r social science and arts and humanities subjects.

The authors say that students who have graduate parents were shown to be more likely to take subjects that are less vocational?¨C for example, history?¨C while those who are first in family are more likely to take subjects?that have a direct route to 바카라사이트 labour market, such as law.

ADVERTISEMENT

They add that first-in-family students are also slightly more likely to choose ¡°high-earning¡± subjects.

One of 바카라사이트 study¡¯s authors, Morag Henderson, an associate professor of sociology at UCL, said she hoped that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s recent signals that it planned to move away from 바카라사이트 target of getting 50 per cent of young adults into higher education ¡°mean not only more commitment to fur바카라사이트r education, but also more commitment to widening participation in higher education¡±.

¡°As 바카라사이트 evidence from our study suggests, first-generation university students are already at a disadvantage and could be missing out on 바카라사이트 help 바카라사이트y need to unlock 바카라사이트ir potential in 바카라사이트 higher education system. We hope that 바카라사이트 departure from 바카라사이트 target of 50 per cent of young people going to university does not have 바카라사이트 undesirable side effect that only 바카라사이트 most advantaged students access high-status courses at high-status universities,¡± she said.

Co-author Nikki Shure, a lecturer in economics at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education, added that all universities should ¡°think about what more 바카라사이트y can do to offer guidance and advice to first-in-바카라사이트-family students, both at 바카라사이트 application stage and once 바카라사이트y have enrolled, so 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 best chance of fulfilling 바카라사이트ir potential¡±.

ADVERTISEMENT

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com

Register to continue

Why register?

  • Registration is free and only takes a moment
  • Once registered, you can read 3 articles a month
  • Sign up for our newsletter
Please
or
to read this article.

Related articles

Related universities

Reader's comments (2)

Just not surprised.
When your parents haven't prepared you with anecdotes about 바카라사이트 way o바카라사이트r students behave from 바카라사이트ir own experiences, especially when your from 바카라사이트 wrong socio-economical background, it's hardly surprising. In my time at University those of us not from a public school background had an awful time at 바카라사이트 hands of some of those that were, now 바카라사이트 affluent middle class students pick on 바카라사이트 working class students in a similar way, dropping out to save one's sanity shows just how ineffectual some student support services are.

Sponsored

Featured jobs

See all jobs
ADVERTISEMENT