
Yasmin Coffey
FELLOW | SCOTTISH GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE | 2024 – 2027
Yasmin Coffey is a fellow of the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (1+3), funded to complete a Master of Research and a PhD at the University of St Andrews. Her research examines the influence of educational institutions on the social class identity of individuals from similar backgrounds. This research reflects Yasmin’s long-standing passion for addressing social disparities and inequalities. From her involvement with the Social Mobility Foundation during her school years, to serving as the President of the 93% Club – the largest social mobility society across Universities in the UK – Yasmin has first-hand experience with the challenges of social stratification within education and beyond. Yasmin is a first-generation student from a lower socio-economic background which has deepened her awareness of the importance of research that explores the relationships between social class and academia. She is committed to making her research accessible to students from less privileged backgrounds, raising awareness of the impact of elite institutions. To further this mission, she has delivered keynote speeches to state school students and started a social mobility podcast.
Yasmin completed her undergraduate degree at the University of St Andrews, graduating with First-Class Honours and placing on the Dean’s List for all four years of her degree. Her undergraduate dissertation explored the impact of attending an elite institution on social class identity among final-year students, leading her to pursue her research further with a PhD. Her PhD focuses on how elite university attendance in the UK shapes social class identity for individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, with particular attention to social networks, confidence, aspirations, and cultural engagement. The research also explores whether elite institutions confer class-related advantages and influence post-graduation outcomes, with broader implications for social mobility and societal stratification.

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