Intersectionality in Scottish higher education institutions: Examining socioeconomic status and protected characteristics

The higher education sector recognises the importance of intersectionality and the complexities of discrimination arising from the links between socioeconomic background and equality. This report examines some of the specific intersections of identities within the population of Scottish domiciled entrants at Scottish higher education institutions.

Socioeconomic status is examined in combination with the protected characteristics of age, disability, ethnicity and gender to understand the potential impact combinations of these factors have on access and participation.

Identifying underrpresentation

Monitoring your institutional socioeconomic and equality data, considering intersectionality and comparing your data against other universities can help your institution identify areas of underrepresentation or disadvantage and to plan actions.

The data provided here covers socioeconomic status (as measured by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, parental education and occupational classification under NS-SEC), in combination with the protected characteristics of age, disability, ethnicity and gender.