Care to College: A Study on Care-Experienced Students in Higher Education

International research has shown that young people who have been in care tend to have lower academic attainment on average compared to their peers, and the attainment gap tends to increase over time. These young people are less likely to progress to higher education, and in case of pursuing higher education, tend to do it later. While several studies have explored the educational experiences of disadvantaged children and young people when leaving school, post-school transitions from state care to third level has received limited policy attention in Ireland. The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of the main factors that influence the post-school decision-making of care-experienced students regarding entry to higher education. The research will be funded by Empowering People in Care (EPIC) and is due to be completed later in 2024.