Shweta Mishra and Lars Müller examine migrant students in German higher education and the relationship between their social networks, social capital, and dropout intention. Using data from the German National Education Panel Study, they use Lin‘s (2001) concepts of ‘capital deficit’ and ‘return deficit’ to find out how native and migrant students‘ access and utilization of social capital differ. Using linear and logistic regressions they find that the networks of migrant students are characterized by high norms and aspirations, which have a shielding role for dropout. Nevertheless, students with both parents born abroad are at a higher risk of dropout than mixed background students.

The paper will be published in the next issue of Studies in Higher Education and is now available online: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/IETRPECHZGJCEI4BRGH3/full?target=10.1080/03075079.2021.1948525