The main aim of this research project is an intersectional analysis of in/excluding mechanisms in higher education for ethnic minority students and those from socio-economically vulnerable groups. While studies have identified these groups’ vulnerable position in both college attendance & drop-out, few studies have delved deeper into the underlying processes at the root of these issues. Consequently, this research project investigates barriers & support-systems within higher education in a comprehensive way. To do so, two perspectives are employed: the agency perspective (i.e., the perspective of the student) and the system perspective (i.e., the perspective of the lecturer and system of higher education). This results in three research objectives: 1) an in-depth analysis of how students navigate the possible barriers and supports in higher education with regard to study activities, interactions with peers and lecturers, and institutional culture; 2) an in-depth analysis of how systemic barriers in the higher educational context are presented in the discourse of lecturers, the curriculum and teaching activities; 3) an analysis of social equity issues following the rise in digital and self-regulated learning; evolutions which have gained momentum due to the corona pandemic and risk exacerbating the vulnerable position of these groups. Doing so, this project provides a 360° view of mechanisms for “Higher Education for All” on the individual, interpersonal & institutional level.