How instability in the labour market affects Greek students’ decision to study at university and to attend private tuition

Roumeliotis, Spyridon (2014). How instability in the labour market affects Greek students’ decision to study at university and to attend private tuition. University of Birmingham. M.Phil.

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Abstract

This study investigates Greek school students’ aspirations in relation to university education and how the economic recession in Greece has influenced these aspirations. The factors that influence students’ aspirations are explored, with reference to the theoretical framework of relative risk aversion theory. The study also takes into consideration the important role of private tuition lessons as a strategy to increase chances to study at university in Greece. Based on students’ opinions and experiences, it was revealed that the fear of unemployment and anxiety about downward social mobility partly explain students’ intentions to study at university and attend private tuition lessons. The findings also suggest that parents’ perceptions influenced students’ intentions to attend private tuition lessons and students’ aspirations to study at university. Therefore parental expectations could be seen as a complementary explanation to the claims of relative risk aversion theory. Furthermore, students’ decisions to study at university were connected with different ‘dimensions of risk’, such as the fear of unemployment, financial limitations or the fear of being considered over-qualified for a graduate job. Finally, the study provides a typology of how school students mitigated these risks.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Masters by Research > M.Phil.)

Award Type:

Masters by Research > M.Phil.

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