ABSTRACT
The focus of the chapter is the experiences and perspectives of Migrant Student Mothers (MSM) in Higher Education, within the context of Widening Access for Mature Students (WAMS), particularly exploring how the former make sense of their position as mothers and migrants, examining the internal and external experiences shaping their understandings of the education and labour market opportunities which are available to them. The chapter is organised into three sections: Motivational reasons for mothers to enter university; The experiences of student parents while in university; and lastly, drawing on Affect Theory, particularly Hope Theory, it unearths how MSM make sense of their position as mothers and migrants, while at university. The chapter underlines the importance of a reciprocal relationship between material experiences and affective understandings. It is argued that for the MSM, a central theme is the affects of the individual's experiences, especially hope. These ideas are significant in their motivation and achievements as mothers through their migration and education journeys, despite their position as invisible stakeholders in university, enabling both themselves and their children to occupy a positive place as future citizens, to thrive, achieve and progress, to benefit not only themselves but also future generations and society as a whole.
