Antalet studenter har under de senaste 10 åren expanderats inom Sveriges högskolor och universitet. Bland dessa studenter råder en kraftig underrepresentation av icke-traditionella studenter. De åtgärder regeringen vidtagit i syfte att bredda rekryteringen har resulterat i att studenter från samtliga samhällsgrupper har ökat, vilket har reducerat utjämningseffekten. Studiens syfte är att undersöka vad icke-traditionella anser påverkat dem inför valet av lärosäte och program. Studiens deltagare är fem icke-traditionella studenter vars föräldrar är lågutbildade. Dessa deltagare har intervjuats under semistrukturerade intervjuer. För att analysera deltagarnas utsagor har Bourdieus begreppsapparat används som analysverktyg. Begreppen har bringat förståelse för hur deltagarnas tillgångar och inneboende egenskaper har påverkat deras val. Resultatet visar att deltagarna valt lärosäte baserat på den geografiska närheten samt möjlighet till bostadsgaranti och önskad programinriktning. Deltagarnas program har valts efter intresse, möjligheter till vidareutbildning, omfattning av studielån och vad deltagarna anser passar deras personlighet.

In Sweden we have the highest rate of nontraditional students among Europe. Coincidently, we also have the highest rates of drop outs among OECD. In this particular field, drop out from higher education, there is a need fore more qualitative studies that can support the "statistics". Studies about experiences of drop outs are significant for society, university and individual. The aim of this study is to describe and understand how nontraditional student experiences drop out from higher education. What do they tell regarding their meeting with the university? How is the drop out visible before the decision to quit? How can the way forward to the drop out be described? What does the university mean for them? The theoretical point of departure is the concept lifeworld and the method is phenomenological hermeneutic with narrative interviews with 5 students. The result points out that the meeting with the university implies a meeting with other individuals, and also a "meeting" within the student himself, by inner questioning and reflection. The students’ relationship to the studies is characterized by the experience of understanding. The dropouts are visible through different events. The decision per se has increased over time and the students have also grown personally by the decision. To understand or not understand is crucial for the experience of learning. The drop out can also be seen as a transition and a turning point. The drop out is an effort and takes place without professional staff, therefore needs to be discussed in public.

In Sweden we have the highest rate of nontraditional students among Europe. Coincidently, we also have the highest rates of drop outs among OECD. In this particular field, drop out from higher education, there is a need fore more qualitative studies that can support the "statistics". Studies about experiences of drop outs are significant for society, university and individual. The aim of this study is to describe and understand how nontraditional student experiences drop out from higher education. What do they tell regarding their meeting with the university? How is the drop out visible before the decision to quit? How can the way forward to the drop out be described? What does the university mean for them? The theoretical point of departure is the concept lifeworld and the method is phenomenological hermeneutic with narrative interviews with 5 students. The result points out that the meeting with the university implies a meeting with other individuals, and also a "meeting" within the student himself, by inner questioning and reflection. The students’ relationship to the studies is characterized by the experience of understanding. The dropouts are visible through different events. The decision per se has increased over time and the students have also grown personally by the decision. To understand or not understand is crucial for the experience of learning. The drop out can also be seen as a transition and a turning point. The drop out is an effort and takes place without professional staff, therefore needs to be discussed in public.