Preparing your child for university

Help your child get ready for university with practical steps for before they start, their first week, and settling into study and student life.

Before they start university

Start with the key tasks your child needs to complete before arriving.

We also offer a Kickstarter Programme to equip students with key university skills before they start their academic year.

Welcome Week helps your child settle in and get ready for study.

In their first week, they will:

International students will also attend an Orientation week before Welcome Week.

This is when teaching begins, and your child starts their course.

By the second week, your child should:

Plan arrival day: It’s good to plan your departure together. Will they need a lift to campus or a helping hand packing their things? What time do they need to arrive to collect their keys? These are good things to run through before day one.
Help with packing; Make sure they have everything they need to start at uni. They might need kitchen items, bedding, and other household essentials.
Check accommodation and key collection details: Make sure they know where and when they need to collect their room key and what time they can move in.
Talk about food shopping and cooking: If you’re able to do so, it can be useful to pack some food or take them food shopping for the first week. It’s also useful to take them shopping with you and talk to them about planning meals before they start university.
Support essential life skills: It’s a great idea to teach your young person about how to do washing, especially separating whites and colours, the basics of cooking and eating a balanced diet.
Make sure they register with a GP: They’ll need to register with a GP close to their university. The health centre attached to their university will usually be the most convenient, and the doctors there will be experienced in student health.

You can support your child as they adjust to university life:

Help them build a new routine: Lectures aren't always 9-5 so encourage your young person to make a timetable and plan their week.
Make space and time for study: Students will need to be motivated to study the books on their reading list and undertake their own research on module content, and will need time and space at home to achieve this.
Encourage independence: They must remember that induction programmes are designed with this in mind, and everyone is in the same boat. Lectures and seminars are a great way to make friends, as students will already have similar interests. Joining a sports club is also a fantastic way to make friends and get active.
Support time management: Your young person will have a new routine, new goals and new ambitions. They will need good time management skills to make sure they are on time for timetabled lectures, seminars and fun social gatherings.
Encourage them to take part in student life: University is an experience like no other. From opportunities to take part in new sports and activities to part-time work and exciting placements.
Help them balance study, travel and social activities: It is a good idea to encourage your young person to go out and make like-minded friends – living at home shouldn’t stop them from having the full university life experience.

Your child will have support available throughout their studies.

UEL offers help with:

Explore support services for new students to find out more.

Take the next step to support your child’s transition to university.

Use the Prepare to start checklist and explore support for new students