Inequality of opportunity in selection procedures limits diversity in higher education: An intersectional study of Dutch selective higher education programs

Discussion This study aimed to investigate 1) the representativeness of student populations of selective HE programs, compared to the applicant pool and their age cohort; 2) the demographic back- ground variables which are associated with an applicant’s odds of admission into selective HE programs; and 3) the acceptance rates of applicants with either all, some or none of the back- ground characteristics positively associated with odds of admission. The results show that student representativeness in selective HE programs is limited. Part of the reason for this, is self-selection. Applicants are often not representative of their respec- tive eligible pools or the age cohort, especially in the case of sex–as men are underrepresented in the applicant pools of almost every cluster. However, this is not the only reason for the underrepresentation of different groups in selective HE programs. The widespread inequality of opportunity in the selection procedures, both at HBO and university level, contributes to the pattern that student populations do not represent their age cohort, the higher general or Fig 2. Intersectional acceptance rates in the cluster SU4_2020 (Biomedical sciences and clinical technology in 2020). Note: numbers do not always add up due to missing data on parental assets category. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0292805.g002 PLOS ONE Inequality of opportunity in Dutch selection procedures limits diversity in higher education PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0292805 October 13, 2023 16 / 24