The Educational Strategies of Danish University Students from Professional and Working-Class Backgrounds

Jens Peter Thomsen, Martin D. Munk, Misja Eiberg, Gro Inge Hansen

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This article studies the educational strategies adopted by university students from different class backgrounds in a Scandinavian welfare regime. Studies show distinct differences among classes relating to economic considerations, risk-averse behavior, and patterns of socialization among university students. We investigate these differences through qualitative interviews with 60 students from six programs. We ask how and to what extent Danish students' choice of program and their educational strategies, attitudes, and behaviors are class related. We find that strategies are class based, but Danish working-class students do not refer to their class cultural background or to a collective working-class identity as either an asset or a challenge. Furthermore, financial constraints are not perceived as affecting their choice of higher education.

Original languageEnglish
JournalComparative Education Review
Volume57
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)457-480
Number of pages24
ISSN0010-4086
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Educational Strategies of Danish University Students from Professional and Working-Class Backgrounds'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this