Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

This project forms part of a longitudinal examination of trends in higher education participation and graduate profiles of students from Northern Ireland. The aims of this current study are: to extend the existing database on higher education entrants, graduate careers, and to add new cohorts which will widen coverage to include Higher National Diploma (HND) students and long-term graduates; to examine participation in higher education in terms of key social characteristics such as religion, gender, social class, disability and age. (Contemporary circumstances will then be compared with those of the previous 20 years: Northern Ireland will be related to the UK and the Republic of Ireland); to relate participation in higher education to relevant debates and public policies. An earlier study <i>Trends in Higher Education in Northern Ireland and in the Social and Spatial Mobility of Northern Ireland Undergraduates</i> is held at The Data Archive under SN:2386.

Main Topics:

Age; gender; religion; marital status; school attended; disability; A levels gained; subject of study; location of study; qualification gained; occupation; attitudes to college/work; reasons for leaving/staying in Northern Ireland; perceived discrimination.

No sampling (total universe)

Two of the cohorts surveyed (long term and short term graduates) had been contacted in the past. Original source used and questionnaire sent reflecting current situation.

Postal survey