| Summary: | recent years much work and research has been carried out on identifying and overcoming the barriers to Higher Education for those from under-represented backgrounds. However, little research exists on these students once they enter university, their journeys through Higher Education and their final trajectories.
This current study wished to uncover the personal and academic experiences of students from widening participation backgrounds once they enter a prestigious, research intensive, Russell Group university (UON). It wished to ascertain whether barriers to participation exist once these students enter university, whether appropriate support is available and whether barriers exist in progression to employment or postgraduate study.
The study found that there is little requirement for these students to be identified, tracked or supported once they enter HE. A panel of 6 students from lower-socio economic backgrounds were identified and interviewed to ascertain their experiences. The study found that whilst these students are doing well academically barriers do exist in relation to integration into a prestigious university and in their transition to PG student and employment due to a lack of access to social, cultural and financial capital. It recommends students from under-represented backgrounds are identified, targeted and tracked on entry to university so that support and advice can be provided during the integration process through to planning their future pathways and trajectories.
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