Access to top universities through alternative pathways: experiences of transfer students in Hong Kong

Higher education has expanded rapidly worldwide; and the absolute rate of participation among students from underprivileged families increases in the expanded and diversified system. However, inequality remains a persistent issue as the most valuable degrees in prestigious universities are still disproportionately obtained by students from advantaged groups while disadvantaged students are often clustered in new postsecondary programmes at less prestigious tertiary institutes. To better understand the equality implications of education expansion and diversification, this study focuses on the development of sub-degree programmes in community colleges and examines the educational prospects of students in these programmes. Based on interview data with students who successfully transferred from sub-degree studies to bachelor’s degree programmes in two selective universities in Hong Kong, it highlights the potential for the new postsecondary sector to modify the operation of social inequalities within a highly stratified education system. The study also reveals students’ post-transfer experiences in elite universities, providing crucial empirical insights for improving education equality in higher education.