PhD Conferral Mrs. Marjolein M.E. Muskens, MSc.

"Hidden Obstacles in Education for Students from Low Socioeconomic Backgrounds"

In this dissertation, characteristics of contemporary education have been investigated that may unintentionally adversely affect the study performance of students from families with a low socio-economic status (SES). Among other things, it deals with the consequences of undermatching when students with a VWO diploma go to a university of applied sciences instead of an academic university. Undermatching is common among students with a low SES background. In the first year of study, this appears to lead to better social integration for them. However, in the long term it is precisely for this group that it predicts lower satisfaction with both social and academic aspects of the study, compared to students with a low SES background who go to an academic university. This experienced mismatch at universities of applied sciences may have negative consequences for their chances of a diploma and job satisfaction.