Educational capital and access to the labour market: the case of social science graduates of the University of Athens’

The aim of this article is to demonstrate that the criterion of unequal access to higher education is no longer sufficient to "explain" the unequal opportunities and prospects of young people for educational and professional advancement. It is argued that, alongside unequal access to higher education, social inequality must also be sought in a range of other factors that socially and professionally differentiate higher education graduates. Specifically, it is suggested that an additional "level" of inequality has emerged, related to the additional educational and cultural qualifications acquired by young people, and that their successful educational and subsequent professional trajectory largely depends on their social position. This is because their social position influences the opportunities available to each individual in terms of possessing and utilizing both economic and cultural capital.