Who Is Left Out? Inequalities in Higher Education Admissions and Placements in Portugal

Abstract

AbstractAlthough the number of places available in Portuguese public higher education institutions is higher than the number of candidates, some applicants are still left out. Moreover, for those who get a place, inequalities are evident in the admission to the most selective institutions and programmes. This chapter aims to (i) identify and characterise the group of unsuccessful applicants; (ii) analyse the probability of a student being placed in his/her preferred programme; and (iii) examine socioeconomic inequalities in the acces to the most selective programmes. Findings reveal that female candidates, those with the lowest grade point average and those who live in the biggest cities, Porto and Lisbon, are most likely to be among the unsuccessful applicants, which suggests inequalities in access to higher education. Inequalities are also embedded within higher education, as access to universities and more selective study programmes seems to be easier for students whose parents hold higher education qualifications.