Data and Reflections on Access-Transition to Higher Education in Portugal

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter analyses inequalities in the transition from upper secondary to higher education in Portugal, using empirical data from the General-Directorate of Education and Science Statistics (DGEEC). It argues that educational inequalities are already present in Portuguese students’ trajectories before higher education and that the transition to higher education therefore reflects these different opportunities. The central argument is that socioeconomic status is the most important aspect that directly or indirectly conditions transition to higher education in Portugal, and thus is the primary source of inequality in participation. The findings also point to other factors similar to those already highlighted in the literature as responsible for inequalities in access to higher education: previous schooling, gender, different regional opportunities and selection and admission criteria, with socioeconomic status appearing to be transversal to and/or aggravate the influence of most of these other factors (except gender). Disadvantaged students who manage to surmount all the different obstacles and reach higher education belong to a group of resilient “academic survivors”. Based on the findings of this study, several areas of intervention are proposed.