On Equality and University Education in Sweden1

Abstract

Abstract: Svensson, A. 1980. On Equality and University Education in Sweden. Scand. J. Educ. Res. 24,79‐92. The aim of this investigation is to study the significance which different factors in childhood ‐‐ family and school environment, intelligence, interest in studies, etc. ‐‐ have on the choice of and success in different types of post‐secondary education. The investigation includes a ten per cent sample of all Swedes born in 1948. By January 1, 1976, approximately one‐fifth of these individuals had entered some form of post‐secondary studies. About 40 per cent of those who had enrolled in such studies had also completed an academic degree. One of the facts established by the analyses made in the investigation is that 34 per cent of the children from academic homes had completed a post‐secondary degree. The corresponding percentage from working‐class homes is 4 per cent, which means that the probability is more than eight times greater of achieving an academic degree if one belongs to the former category.