The different profiles of young people’s experiences in university

Abstract

This chapter discusses in what respects the different profiles of the university experience can be considered forms of inequalities. It shows that the inequality of the experience is shaped by the interplay between socio-economic backgrounds and ‘structures of welfare’ that are available to young people. The chapter describes for each profile illustrated in the previous chapter, the function of class and welfare mixes in reinforcing inequality. The chapter shows how negative experiences of young people during university arise, in particular, as a consequence of a ‘mismatch’ between the resources required during university, and what is available from the state, the family and the labour-market.