Accent Bias and Inequities in Higher Education: A critical perspective on University Students’ Experiences of Accent-Based Disadvantages.

UK Higher Education (HE) has an increasingly diverse student population due to internationalisation and widening participation strategies, common in universities worldwide. However, a drive to recruit overseas and other traditionally under-represented students may result in inequities if comparable efforts are not made to understand and enhance their experiences. Using a survey (N=600), quantitative analysis and critical reflexive thematic analysis, we examine the inequities students experience at an elite university, focusing on language. We demonstrate four accent-based disadvantages that traditionally under-represented students may face: 1) experiencing microagressions; 2) struggling to embody a ‘legitimate’ academic identity and fully participate in university life; 3) intersection of accent bias with other axes of discrimination, especially race and class; and 4) internalising negative perceptions of their accent, affecting confidence, wellbeing, and career choices. We make recommendations to help HEIs address accent-based inequities and ensure that students from all linguistic backgrounds have equal opportunities for learning.