University access trends and the degree program choice of young people in Catalonia

Abstract

This paper analyses the university access trends though 12 years. Some important contextual and institutional changes have occurred. With Catalan data, we first analyse access ratios trends by family educational background. Results show that have been some shifts of access ratios for new students, related to contextual changes. Nevertheless, the inequalities between social backgrounds are the same through this period. Then, we analyse the choice of high difficulty and price degree programs, and we observe that there have been some changes in educational choices. Specifically for female students, with a polarized behaviour due to family educational background and access qualifications.