The iron law of hierarchy? Institutional differentiation in UK higher education

Abstract

This paper maps the main dimensions of differentiation among institutions and ‘faculties’ (subject areas within institutions) of higher education in the United Kingdom. It does so through a principal components analysis based on the characteristics of applicants and entrants. A single status dimension accounts for a quarter of the variation, and is associated with the social class, educational background, age (under 21) and non-local origin of students. This dimension is very stable over time and across England, Wales and Scotland. It is robust in the face of alternative specifications. The paper argues that this institutional hierarchy is deeply embedded in wider social structures and reflects the social reproduction role of higher education. Other, somewhat less stable dimensions, are associated with students' ethnic background and domicile.

Keywords:

• diversity
• subject differences
• stratification
• social class
• ethnic inequalities

Acknowledgements

This paper is a product of the research project on Changing Transitions to a Differentiated Higher Education System, funded by the Nuffield Foundation. It uses data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). UCAS cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived from the data by third parties. An earlier version of the paper was presented to a seminar of the Applied Quantitative Methods Network in Edinburgh in December 2012; some of the contents were included in presentations to the Society for Research into Higher Education Annual Conference in December 2012 and a seminar hosted by the Nuffield Foundation in April 2013. We are grateful to participants at these events, and especially to Jan Eichhorn, for helpful comments and support. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors.