Disadvantaged university students are three times more likely to live at home
New report says that social mobility is the preserve of ‘white, middle class, privately educated young people’
Poorer students are more than three times as likely to live at home while studying for a degree than their wealthier peers, according to a new study by the Sutton Trust.
The report, Home and Away: social, ethnic and spatial inequalities in student mobility, uses official university data to examine whether students who go to university are “commuters” (i.e. remain at the family home) or “movers” (i.e. leave their homes to live closer to their place of study).
More than half (55.8%) of young people in the academic year 2014/15 stayed in their local area during their time at university, attending institutions that were less than 55 miles from their home address, The Independent reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The report found that former state school students are two and a half times more likely to live at home compared to those who go to private schools. British Pakistani and British Bangladeshi students are over six times more likely than white students to continue living at the family home.
The report claims that moving long distances to study for a degree is an option only for “white, middle class, privately educated young people”. It argues that student mobility is a “major issue of inequality” in higher education.
Times Higher Education writes that, as well as calling on selective universities to consider reserving a proportion of places for local working-class students, the report recommends that institutions consider “more flexible timetabling of lectures in cases where there are large increases in student commuters”.
Dr Michael Donnelly of the University of Bath, who co-authored the study, said: “Whilst moving away is not for everyone, some of the most disadvantaged young people could be being prevented from accessing new opportunities and social networks further afield, or developing important life skills through living independently – further damaging chances for social mobility.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The problem with 'Cool Girl Lit'
Talking Point Has the ultra-popular book genre gone too far in 'commodifying' women's vulnerability?
By Tess Foley-Cox Published
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off' tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Mary Poppins tour: 'humdinger' of a show kicks off at Bristol Hippodrome
The Week Recommends Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers are 'true triple threats' as Mary and Bert in 'timeless' production
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Is academic freedom in peril?
Today's Big Question Faculty punishments are on the rise
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Why college students are struggling to read full books
Under the Radar Is reading full books a thing of the past for students?
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Anti-Israel protests impact a Jewish-rooted university
The Explainer The president of Brandeis University resigned as a result of multiple factors, including his handling of recent protests
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
College admissions data reveals early effects of affirmative action's end
In the spotlight A sneak peek at how the Supreme Court's decision has panned out
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Why are so many colleges closing?
Today's Big Question 'Enrollment cliffs' and higher tuition both play a role
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
UK universities: why higher education is in crisis
The Explainer A combination of spiralling costs and fewer international students is leaving universities in serious financial trouble
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Last updated
-
Why are professors trying to escape their jobs?
Under the Radar The Facebook group that offers a look inside the crisis in higher education
By David Faris Published
-
USC under fire for canceling valedictorian speech
Speed Read Citing safety concerns, the university canceled a pro-Palestinian student's speech
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published