Ann-Marie Bathmaker & Nicola Ingram 
Higher Education, Social Class and Social Mobility 
The Degree Generation

This book explores higher education, social class and social mobility from the point of view of those most intimately involved: the undergraduate students. It is based on a project which followed a cohort of young undergraduate students at Bristol’s two universities in the UK through from their first year of study for the following three years, when most of them were about to enter the labour market or further study. The students were paired by university, by subject of study and by class background, so that the fortunes of middle-class and working-class students could be compared. Narrative data gathered over three years are located in the context of a hierarchical and stratified higher education system, in order to consider the potential of higher education as a vehicle of social mobility.

Table of Content

Chapter 1. Introduction: The Degree Generation. Higher Education and Social Class.- Chapter 2. Researching Class and Higher Education.- Chapter 3. Two Universities: One City.- Chapter 4. Getting In.- Chapter 5. Getting On.- Chapter 6. Getting Out.- Chapter 7. Narratives of Class and ‘Race’.- Chapter 8. Conclusion.

About the author

Ann-Marie Bathmaker is Professor of Vocational and Higher Education at the University of Birmingham, UK. 





Nicola Ingram is Lecturer in Education and Social Justice at Lancaster University, UK. 






Jessie Abrahams is a Ph D student in the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University, UK. 







Tony Hoare was Director of Research in Widening Participation, University of Bristol, UK, from 2006 till 2015.







Richard Waller is Associate Professor of the Sociology of Education at the University of the West of England, UK. 






Harriet Bradley is Professor of Women’s Employment at the University of the West of England, UK and Professor Emerita at Bristol University, UK.