Ensino superior, trabalho e emprego na actual sociedade de risco: um olhar sobre o caso de mestres e doutores

against a background of growing uncertainty and instability, in particular on a work level, which fuels the notion that we are living in “risk” societies, the demand for ever higher educational qualifications is sometimes interpreted as a strategy to confront these difficulties, guaranteeing resources for the attainment of more advantageous and stable social and occupational positions. on the basis of the results of a research project carried out between 2003 and 2006, the article seeks to extend our knowledge and reflection on this topic, systematising results on the educational and occupational careers of master’s and phd degree holders and on the kinds of rationale involved in the supply of master’s degree courses.