Mature Female Entrants to Higher Education: Matching Theory, Empirical Analysis and Policy

Nick Adnett () and Gwen Coates

Working Papers from Staffordshire University, Business School

Abstract: Little is known about the social and private returns to graduation for mature students in the U K. However, the post-Dearing changes in the funding of higher education have initially been associated with a significant fall in applications from this group of entrants. This paper, by providing an economic assessment of mature female entrants to higher education, allows a preliminary evaluation of those funding changes. It critically appraises the limited empirical work in this area, identifying fundamental methodological weaknesses. The assessment addresses the issue of re-entry into employment and relates mature females' entry into HE to the wider i ssue of gender inequality in the labour market. It concludes that a case can be made for continued additional subsidies targeted at this group of entrants.

Keywords: Access; Higher education entrants; Female re-entrants; Gender inequality. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
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