First in family
This refers to a student whose parents or guardians do not have any experience of higher education.
Datasets and students use a range of terms including ‘first in family’, ‘first generation’, ‘first gen’ and ‘no parental experience of higher education’.
Most studies in this evidence review that use this term are using self-declared data, in which the student is asked if either of their parents has a university degree.
However, some studies are based on either maternal or paternal higher education experience.
Some studies account for different family structures (including stepparents and guardians) while others do not.
Key statistics
Continuation – Progression:
The Education and Skills Funding Agency’s (ESFA’s) individualised learner record (ILR), The Student Return, collected by the Designated Data Body (DDB) and The Student Alternative (SA) record, collected by the Designated Data Body (DDB).
On a provider level:
UCAS provide information on parental education levels. This can then be matched to Individual Learner records by a provider for internal database purposes.
On a national level:
The student characteristics data: Outcomes data dashboard has information on the profile, continuation, completion, attainment and progression rates of students by parental education levels.
Note: Definitions and the quality of each study vary.
Adamecz-Volgyi, A., Henderson, M., Shure, N. (2021) ‘Intergenerational Educational Mobility – 'The Role of Non-cognitive Skills’. IZA - Institute of Labor Economics. (Accessed 12/12/2023)
Advance HE (2019) ‘Student Engagement Survey’. (Accessed 11/01/2024)
Anna E. Spengen, ‘The Experiences of First-Generation University Students’, 2013, p.1
Ann-Marie Bathmaker, Nicola Ingram & Richard Waller (2013) ‘Higher education, social class and the mobilisation of capitals: recognising and playing the game’, British Journal of Sociology of Education, 34:5-6, 723-743, DOI: 10.1080/01425692.2013.816041
HEPI (2022) ‘First-in-Family Students’. (Accessed 12/12/2023)
HEPI (2023) ‘Student Academic Experience Survey 2023’. HEPI. (Accessed 12/12/2023)
Montacute, R., & Cullinane, C (2018) ‘Parent power: How parents use financial and cultural resources to boost their children's chances of success’. (Accessed 12/01/2024)
Morag Henderson, Nikki Shure and Anna Adamecz-Völgyi (2020) , 'Moving on up: "first in family" university graduates in England', Oxford Review of Education, 11 August 2020, p.13
Social Mobility Commission ‘State of the Nation 2023: People and places’. (Accessed 12/01/2024) (publishing.service.gov.uk)
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