Degrees of Disadvantage: A Critical Review of Structural Racism in UK Higher Education and Graduate Labour Markets

This research explores how structural racism continues to disadvantage Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) students and graduates in the United Kingdom. It shows that inequality does not end with access to university, it becomes more hidden. From curriculum design to campus culture and employment outcomes, BAME individuals face barriers that are systemic, not personal. Despite years of policy and public statements about fairness, the outcomes remain unequal. BAME graduates are more likely to receive lower classifications, experience exclusion, and struggle to access meaningful, well-paid work. This study is personal. As a BAME graduate and researcher, I believe that research must do more than describe injustice, it must challenge it.