Socio-economic status and participation in higher education: An investigation into entry pathway, course and retention

Jenny Chesters, Carol Lacroix

    Research output: A Conference proceeding or a Chapter in BookConference contributionpeer-review

    Abstract

    Despite the expansion of the higher education sector, students from low socioeconomic backgrounds are under-represented in Australian universities. Although, disadvantage in secondary school educational attainment can, in part, be overcome by accessing university through alternative pathways, little research has examined the outcomes of these non-traditional students. Drawing on administrative data relating to an entire cohort of domestic students commencing undergraduate studies at one Australian university in 2007, this paper explores the relationship between pathway into university, course selection and retention. We find that there is a clear association between socio-economic background and pathway into university, between pathway into university and type of degree studied, and between pathway into university and attrition.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationThe Annual Conference of the Australian Sociological Association 2012 : Emerging and Enduring Inequalities
    EditorsLynda Cheshire, Alex Broom
    Place of PublicationQueensland
    PublisherThe University of Queensland
    Pages1-9
    Number of pages9
    Volume1
    ISBN (Print)9780646587837
    Publication statusPublished - 2012
    EventEmerging and Enduring Inequalities - Brisbane, Australia
    Duration: 26 Nov 201229 Nov 2012

    Conference

    ConferenceEmerging and Enduring Inequalities
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    CityBrisbane
    Period26/11/1229/11/12

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