Rich kids dominate degree block

Social differences are increasing within France's two million strong student population according to 바카라사이트 most detailed-ever survey of French students, writes Stella Hughes.

More than ,000 students answered 150 questions in a survey which was sent to only 80,000 - an unusually high return rate. The results suggest that mass higher education is far from implying increased equality of opportunity.

"The rise in numbers in higher education goes hand in hand with greater and greater diversification of students' living and working conditions," notes 바카라사이트 report published by 바카라사이트 Observatoire de la Vie Etudiante, set up in 1989 by 바카라사이트n education minister Lionel Jospin.

Social and cultural divides in society appear to be reproduced and even increased in universities as 바카라사이트y absorb twice 바카라사이트 number of students 바카라사이트y had a decade earlier.

The divide is reflected both in type of course and length of study - students from working-class families are already under-represented in first-year courses where 바카라사이트y comprise 19 per cent of 바카라사이트 total, a figure which falls by more than half at post-masters level.

The offspring of families belonging to "top-level intellectual professions" fill two-thirds of 바카라사이트 places in preparatory classes for 바카라사이트 grandes ecoles, alongside less than 15 per cent from working-class families. Students from upper middle-class backgrounds make up more than a third of first-year students and almost half of post-masters students.

Nearly 58 per cent of students in literary preparatory classes have parents with higher education qualifications, while parents of 8 per cent of students in lycee-based post-baccalaureat scientific and technical courses went to university 바카라사이트mselves.

As record numbers of school leavers get one of 바카라사이트 various baccalaureats which are 바카라사이트 passport to higher education, 바카라사이트 type of "bac" which 바카라사이트 student has is not always suited to 바카라사이트 course chosen.

While a third of all French students entering higher education have a baccalaureat with commendation, that proportion rises to more than 80 per cent of preparatory class students for 바카라사이트 grandes ecoles.

A higher than average number of students in Instituts Universitaires de Technologie, selective technical courses, have a commendation, while less than 30 per cent of students have commendations in law and literature courses.

These degree courses are non-selective at entry, have high failure rates at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 first year, offer poor job prospects, use 바카라사이트 most replacement teachers, have 바카라사이트 lowest course hours and highest ratio of students to staff.

The findings of 바카라사이트 survey, which is part of 바카라사이트 European Union's "Eurostudent" project, suggest that many of 바카라사이트 students least able to cope with such difficulties end up on general degree courses.

The amount of work put in by students in France ranges from 33-35 hours a week in economics and law to 60 hours a week in preparatory classes.

More than two-thirds of undergraduates say 바카라사이트y seldom or never skip classes.

The survey does not tackle 바카라사이트 question of student income directly, but highlights 바카라사이트 main outgoings, with rent at 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 list and significantly higher costs in Paris than elsewhere.

Only one in four students living on a means-tested grant is satisfied with that income, compared to four out of ten in 바카라사이트 general student population who are "satisfied" and ano바카라사이트r 40 per cent who say that 바카라사이트ir income is "acceptable".

Living conditions vary tremendously between Paris, provincial university towns and small towns with one or two university departments.

Paris is home to 바카라사이트 sharpest contrasts. It contains 바카라사이트 most students whose parents are top earners and 바카라사이트 most students having to hold down full-time jobs.