Introduction

This book focuses on the experiences of non-traditional students in European higher education (HE). In particular, it examines what impact access to HE is having on these students' lives and what this tells us about European education and society. One key focus is on the multi-dimensional nature of inequality in varied national contexts concerning issues of age, class, disability, ethnicity and gender and how such inequalities become visible through the voices of the students. The book aims to contribute to the on-going debate about the changing nature of European HE and argues that research based on the experiences of non-traditional students can be used to improve policy and practice in European tertiary education.