Poorer families

The university admissions debate has focused on students' secondary school experience, whether state or public. The inference is that, once matriculated, young people enter a level playing field. But is there any research on the higher education experience of young people from lower-income groups? Do problems persist during their tertiary educational career? For example, do they need to work more for money because there is no expectation of parental contributions? Do some of them continue to experience family issues such as parental or sibling unemployment? If they return home in vacations, do they have their own bedrooms? Do they have access to study facilities at home? Is there a PC?

We need to know how far material circumstances continue to affect students' higher educational experience.

Dave Postles

Leicester