Example ethnicity and race dissertation topic 3:

Racist abuse towards international students: A case study comparison between the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University

Racism within higher education takes many forms; admissions, awarding of marks and student attitudes. Given this plethora of opportunities for racism to emerge, this dissertation asks as to the extent to which racism is institutionalised within the University of Oxford and in so doing, contrasts it with the experiences of students at Oxford Brookes University. This is a dissertation that not only combined qualitative and quantitative research but would also benefit from discussion of issues such as the inclusion agenda and widening participation.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Leathwood, L. and O’Connell, P. (2003) ‘It’s a struggle’: The construction of the ‘new student’ in higher education’, Journal of Education Policy Vol. 18, (6), pp. 597-615.
• Spaights, E., Dixon, H.E., and Nickolai, S. (1985), ‘Racism in higher education’ College Student Journal, Vol. 19 (1), pp. 17 – 22.