Top tips for parents of university students

Do some research into the cost of living in London. Encourage your child to work out a budget that is going to enable them to live comfortably.  

They may need to get some part-time work to support themselves, so they should have a look at wages and employment opportunities too. When you join, our jobs and careers portal can help you find a job to fit around your studies. 

There are many essential housekeeping skills that your child will need to learn to look after themselves.

While some young people are quick to develop their cooking and cleaning, as well as other domestic work, others will need more encouragement. Why not help them make that transition prior to university? Just don't expect them to thank you for it! 

When your child is away from home, you want to feel reassured they are looking after themselves.

At Ravensbourne we have a strong network of student support services. There's always a friendly face available to offer professional and confidential support and guidance. 

Learn more: parents' guide to your child's wellbeing and support network

It is important to respect your child's independence, but that doesn't mean you can't be there to encourage them. Here are a few tips:

• Schedule regular phone calls 
• Research the area they live in and the local services available to them
• Research the university services available to them
• Encourage your child to get involved in social activities

It is important to be realistic about how much work is possible to get done in a day. Unrealistic expectations are likely to lead to disappointment. Encourage them to start their course work early, allowing them to enjoy their social time in the knowledge that they've already tackled their class work and various assignments. 

While a move to online learning has meant students have greater control over their own schedules, it is important that students still find a schedule and stick to it. Sticking to the original lecture times will help to build structure to your child’s day.

Often when we have lots on our plate, it is hard to narrow down our priorities. We can quickly find ourselves feeling overwhelmed. To combat this, encourage your child to write down three things to focus on per day. This will help them to build discipline and effectively manage their workload.

Writing down a list of tasks to complete the next day is great practice for your child's mental wellbeing – either at the end of their working day or just before they go to sleep. It will feel like a weight has been lifted – especially during those busy times – and they will attack tomorrow with a sense of purpose. 

Staying focused at university can be difficult, especially while everything is new and exciting. Setting a timer for half an hour or an hour can help your child to focus their attention in short sprints.

Seeing notifications from social media and messenger apps pop-up on their phone every five minutes is only going to distract them from their work. Encourage them to put their phone out of sight while they are studying.

While some people are most productive first thing in the morning, others work best once night falls. Understanding your child’s working patterns will help them build a schedule that works for them. This might mean that they tackle the most challenging work first to get it out of the way and to avoid procrastination.