Abstract

The expansion of higher education in the recent years in the UK has led to polarisation of the sector with pre- and post- 1992 universities situating themselves on two opposite sides of the prestige spectrum. During that time widening access efforts have increased the levels of participation in education but also polarised the student body (traditional vs. non-traditional students). Non-traditional students (e.g. from working class backgrounds, certain ethnicities) concentrate however in the post-1992 universities. Little is known about experiences that non-traditional students have in traditional, elite institutions. Using semi-structured interviews with students and university employees, this master thesis project explores the experiences and support systems offered to those students.