Master Degree for Everyone? The Impact of Social Origin on Bachelor Students' Qualifications and Their Transition Rates to Master Programs

In the course of the Bologna process", the German system of higher education was significantly restructured by introducing bachelor and master degrees. Although a selection of the best bachelor graduates to enter master programs was intended the transition rates are at a very high level in general. This study focuses for the first time in detail on the transition behavior of nearly 700 bachelor graduates of a German university. Several hypotheses on social selection processes and on the role of gender are tested. Approximately three of four bachelor graduates enter a master program directly after completing their bachelor degree. Multivariate analyses confirm that the educational background of the graduates is influential: There is a nine percentage point difference in the transition rates of graduates from a lower educational family background compared to graduates with at least one parent with a university degree. Primary effects of social background as differences in grades are not detected, however there is evidence that graduates from a lower educational family background do not acquire additional elements of qualification as participation in exchange programs with universities abroad and internships closely related to their field of study. The lower transition of female graduates is completely explained by sex segregation of fields of study.