Melisa Hida- Perceptions of Unattainability in Higher Education

Melisa’s research explores how perceptions of unattainability impact young people’s confidence in higher education. She aims to:

• Understand why some students feel university isn’t “for them.”
• Examine how social background and school environment shape these beliefs.
• Identify ways to empower students to see higher education as an option.

The findings will contribute to sessions for young people and their parents/carers to help them access educational capital and knowledge.

How You Can Get Involved

Melisa is looking for:

• Young people aged 14-25 from state and private education backgrounds.
• Participants for online or in-person focus groups over 3 weeks.
• Contributors for a PlayVerto survey on experiences of higher education access.

The research will be presented to a national audience in Summer 2025 and made available online.

Interested in contributing to Melisa’s research? Contact Melisa at [email protected] for more information.