(Un)informed choices: The persistence of inequalities in UK outbound student mobility

The amount of study abroad programmes have expanded greatly over recent years, as has the number of internationally mobile students, yet participation rates in this activity remains unequal. Those from disadvantaged backgrounds continue to be underrepresented, despite efforts made by universities to widen access through initiatives such as study abroad fairs and student ambassadors. While much has been written already about cost as the primary deterrent for these students, less is understood about how other disinhibiting factors prevents study abroad intent from being transformed into action. As such, this research aims to explore how lack of information and awareness about study abroad opportunities influences the decision-making process for disadvantaged students, in particular those from white working class backgrounds, given that this subgroup has been largely overlooked in widening participation literature until now. It is hoped that findings will be useful in developing appropriate strategies to meet their needs and increase overall engagement levels with study abroad, thus enabling fairer access to opportunities and balancing the benefits of these more evenly across the student population.