Access to privilege : patterns of participation in Australian post-secondary education

Abstract

The main question addressed in this book is whether the social composition of higher education has changed since the 1930s and 1940s. Since that time there has been a tremendous expansion in higher education and policies have been developed aimed at increasing participation by the poor. The answer to the question appears to be that the social profile of higher education is remarkably constant over time; the authors point out, however, that the abolition of tuition fees after 1974 and the introduction of student allowances probably helped counter a regression to a more elite composition caused by the withdrawal of other assistance, particularly education studentships. Nevertheless the authors conclude that access to higher education remains mainly limited to the privileged.