In addition to the known mechanisms of social inequality, there are particularities and contextualisations associated with ethnic origin and migration biography that can have an additional influence on the acquisition of competences and educational decisions. In this context, the family language, relationships with the country of origin, the embedding in ethnic communities and networks, as well as religious orientations, are particularly important.

Therefore, the National Education Panel Study has its own perspective on ‘Educational Attainment of Individuals with a Migration Background over the Life Course,’ which concentrates on the collection of data on migration-specific characteristics relevant to education. One focus of this perspective on the lifelong educational process is the recording of the knowledge and competences of students in the language of their parents' country of origin, since characteristics of first and second language acquisition are central explanatory dimensions for educational and labour market success.