Globally, university students, particularly those from under-represented groups, continue to depart early from university at significant volume. Whilst leaving university without qualifications impacts everyone, for those who are the ‘first’ to attend university, the repercussions can be significantly greater. For first-generation or first-in-family (FIF) students, the decision to attend university is rarely straightforward and may mark a radical departure from an expected biography or trajectory. Identifying the reasons why students depart university early remains an enigma across higher education settings. Early departure can have profound impacts for individuals, not only financially but also emotionally and socially. However, if we only focus on understanding why students ‘leave’ university we miss an important opportunity to consider their rationales for staying.

This talk will report on three studies conducted across Australia, Austria, Ireland and the UK that considered why first-generation learners persist in what can often be an alien and complex university environment. The combined qualitative data points to the recurring theme of the role of ‘mantras’ or spoken statements in encouraging this persistence. In this CGHE webinar, we will highlight the key mantras that learners drew upon to enact persistence and indicate how they are not only rooted in biography but also contradict and challenge dominant discourses within university.