Among the many life transitions that individuals must master throughout their lives, the transition to adulthood ranks very high in terms of importance, complexity and uniqueness. It involves the completion of education, and the assumption of new social roles and responsibilities, at a time when previous institutional structures that guided transitions throughout the school system are falling away. It also involves great uncertainties about the future, especially during periods of rapid social change. Using robust evidence from large scale, longitudinal and comparative studies, this collection emphasises the role of the context in which human development takes place. It addresses three major themes concerning the transition experiences of young people: – social inequality and its impact on educational attainment- the development of motivational processes related to achievement and wellbeing- coping with uncertainty due to social and economic change. The book brings together new research by leading experts and young scholars in psychology, sociology, economics, social policy and education. It will be relevant for social scientists from a broad range of disciplines, policymakers and for everyone interested in life course development, motivation theory, educational choice, attainment, and social participation.