University students from poor backgrounds lose out

Fear of debt and feelings of isolation mean young people from
disadvantaged backgrounds who enter higher education are more
likely to drop out of their courses than other students, according
to new research.

The study from the University of Glasgow, also  found that
students from disadvantaged backgrounds were more likely to leave
their course because the course or institution turned out to be
inappropriate – often because they were unfamiliar with
higher education, and did not receive the information and advice
they needed.

As well as those who dropped out, other students from poor
backgrounds experienced disruption, for example by deferring
enrolment, or switching courses, or restarting courses after
they’d started.

The study recommends  that schools should be giving more
targeted information and advice to disadvantaged young people who
aspire to take higher education courses. “Mechanisms need to
be put in place to familiarise potential students from schools
where few leavers enter higher education with all aspects of
academic life to ensure that these young people are able to manage
their study time, budget their finances and “fit in” to
their ideal courses.”


http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/563.asp

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