In Finland research on social selection in
HE has focused on Master students and largely overlooked doctoral students. The
article examines the backgrounds and life situations of the doctoral students
studying in Finland and analyzes the social selection and segmentation of the
Finnish doctoral education field. The statistical data utilized in the study covers
the whole population of doctoral students (N= 18 687) in Finnish
universities in 2011. The data was analyzed using
frequency distributions, cross-tabulations and cluster analysis. Study
indicates that doctoral students constitute a very heterogeneous group of
people in terms of age, family and life situation, previous education,
profession and social background. Results show that the divisions between
elitist and demotic disciplines and universities apply to a large extent also
in doctoral education. Compared to the whole population doctoral students
originate from families with substantial amount of educational capital. By
utilizing cluster analysis three student groups were distinguished: Long-term
plodders, Status raisers and Educational inheritors. The groups verify the
segmentation, hierarchies and inheritance of academic education in Finland.
Furthermore they reflect the tensions between the diverse life situations of
the doctoral students and the ideals and objectives of the current doctoral
education policy.