www.cerj.eu Preschool children from low socio-economic families’ perceptions of higher education Secil Yucelyigit * , TED University, Ön Cebeci, Ziya Gökalp Cd. 48/A, 06420 Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey Sühendan Er, TED University, Ön Cebeci, Ziya Gökalp Cd. 48/A, 06420 Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey Suggested Citation: Yucelyigit, S., & Er, S. (2022). Preschool children from low socio-economic families’ perceptions of higher education. Contemporary Educational Researches Journal. 12(3), 177–183. https://doi.org/10.18844/cerj.v12i3.6934 Received from March 25, 2022; revised from June 06, 2022; accepted from June 22, 2022. Selection and peer-review under the responsibility of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Ozcan, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Turkey. ©2022 Birlesik Dunya Yenilik Arastirma ve Yayincilik Merkezi, Lefkosa, Cyprus. Abstract It is often difficult for students from low socio-economic backgrounds and minorities to succeed in school. This study aimed to determine how perceptions on higher education of preschool children from low socio-economic families differ after a planned and structured visit to a university campus. The study used a phenomenological research design and 29 children (48–60 months old) were selected with a purposive sampling method from a low-income district public preschool in Ankara. Data were collected through interviews with children and their drawings. Children were asked three questions about higher education in a pre- interview and after they visited the university campus; in the post-interview they were asked the same questions. The interview results and children’s drawings were analysed by content analysis. The results indicated that by participating in a set of activities at the university, children’s understanding of higher education and perception of the university changed considerably. Keywords: Higher education, low socio-economic level, preschool children, perception, university; * * ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Secil Yucelyigit, TED University, Ön Cebeci, Ziya Gökalp Cd. 48/A, 06420 Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey. E-mail address: secil.yucelyigit@gmail.com Contemporary Educational Researches Journal Volume 12, Issue 3, (2022) 177–183