Abstract
This article describes two policy changes in Spain, which were not designed as part of an access policy: regional decentralisation (following the approval of the Spanish Constitution in 1978) and the reform of university curricula that has taken place since 1989. It is shown that these policy changes have had some unexpected effects on access to higher education by different groups of individuals. The analysis pays special attention to the rates of participation of students in different regions, as well as to the probability of access according to socio-economic origin. Economic determinants of educational investments are emphasised. The article shows that the Spanish university system does not offer many opportunities for mature students to access and finance higher education.
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