Understanding the adjustment of first-generation students to Higher Education: a meta-ethnographic synthesis of qualitative research
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Date
2025
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Abstract
Existing research on how first-generation students experience theirtransition to higher education has identified multiple issues thatcould affect their successful adjustment to the new life as students.Through a systematic review of qualitative studies, this researchidentifies and synthesises the most common issues reported in theliterature and assesses them against the Critical Cultural WealthModel. The findings revealed that issues related to socio-emotionalcrossroads and cultural wealth dimensions, along with their corre-sponding subdimensions, are the most commonly reported amongstudies. Still, some additions should be considered to incorporaterelevant issues that cannot be associated with the current subdi-mensions. The article also highlights differences between groups ofFGS addressed in the literature that show specific issues affectingtheir transition experience. Finally, implications for better support-ing first-generation students to navigate higher education success-fully are discussed.
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Keywords
First-generation students, Hgher education, Adjustment, Transition, Qualitative review