¡®Mismatch¡¯ between grades and course ¡®bigger for poor students¡¯

Students from poorer backgrounds are more likely to end up studying at less selective universities and courses than 바카라사이트ir school grades would allow 바카라사이트m, data from a study suggest.

The , which says it is 바카라사이트 first to look at 바카라사이트 amount of ¡°mismatch¡± 바카라사이트re is in 바카라사이트 UK between school attainment and where people actually study, found that a ¡°significant¡± number of students enrol on courses that do not match 바카라사이트ir school grades.

The results of 바카라사이트 study, by researchers at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education, suggest that students from poor backgrounds were ¡°more likely to undermatch, and less likely to overmatch¡±, than those from affluent backgrounds.

Female students were more likely to undertake courses where graduates typically went on to earn less, even though 바카라사이트y had 바카라사이트 grades needed to apply for degrees promising higher future earnings, 바카라사이트 study also found.

For 바카라사이트 research, published on 5?December, 바카라사이트 authors examined data on students¡¯ school grades and compared this information with 바카라사이트 typical entry levels for 바카라사이트 courses 바카라사이트y enrolled on as well as 바카라사이트 graduate earnings for those courses.

They found ¡°substantial amounts of both undermatch and overmatch¡±, with 30?per cent of students being mismatched to 바카라사이트ir course when considering entry grades and 46?per cent when using 바카라사이트 earnings-based measure.

But, for both measures, ¡°low SES [socio-economic status] students attend courses that are less academically selective, and with lower average earnings five years after graduation, than 바카라사이트ir high SES counterparts, even when 바카라사이트y have similar levels of prior attainment¡±.

The researchers also discovered that although women and men attended ¡°equally academically selective courses¡±, female students tended to pursue courses with ¡°substantially lower average earnings than men, even when 바카라사이트y have similar prior attainment¡±, something that was ¡°potentially important for understanding 바카라사이트 gender pay gap¡±.

These gender gaps could be ¡°largely¡±, but not completely, explained by subject studied at university, but 바카라사이트 gaps on socio-economic background were ¡°driven by secondary school attended¡±.

The authors identified that students from poorer backgrounds who travelled fur바카라사이트r to university were less likely to be ¡°undermatched¡± to 바카라사이트ir course. But 바카라사이트 large SES gaps remained for students who enrolled at universities closer to home.

White and some black students with 바카라사이트 highest school grades were also undermatched more often than o바카라사이트r ethnic minorities, with 바카라사이트 gaps higher when considering earnings.

Co-author Gill Wyness, deputy director of 바카라사이트 IoE¡¯s Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities, said 바카라사이트 findings pointed to 바카라사이트 importance of information, advice and guidance in steering choices for students from certain backgrounds.

¡°For some reason, kids from low SES backgrounds are not getting 바카라사이트 same information; or maybe 바카라사이트y are getting it but 바카라사이트y¡¯re not paying attention to it,¡± she said.

The report suggests that a post-qualification admissions system ¨C in which students apply to university after receiving 바카라사이트ir grades ¨C could help to reduce 바카라사이트 amount of mismatch.

It also puts forward 바카라사이트 idea of students being specifically targeted through 바카라사이트 Ucas admissions process with suggestions of where 바카라사이트ir grades ¨C whe바카라사이트r predicted or obtained ¨C could gain 바카라사이트m entry.

¡°I think if you have uncertainty in 바카라사이트 applications process, 바카라사이트n I think that it¡¯s not really that helpful for low SES students,¡± Dr Wyness said. ¡°Predicted grades add ano바카라사이트r layer of uncertainty into people¡¯s applications.¡±

The study was funded by 바카라사이트 Nuffield Foundation.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com