Parents and carers

As parents and carers, we know you want university to be some of the happiest years of your child’s life and a place that gives them the support they need to thrive, both academically and personally.

You might have some concerns as your child gets ready for their new journey, but they are in safe hands at Kent. From support with essay writing to help with settling in, we’re here for them, however they need us.

Academic support

Our Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS) helps with the transition to higher education by providing academic support with study skills, written assignments, time management and more. Your child can access online resources or, if they’d like one-to-one support, they can arrange an appointment with one of our expert Study Advisers.

Safety on campus

Whether they are going for an afternoon lecture, a night out with friends or an evening study session in the library, your child will spend a lot of time travelling around campus. Our Campus Security team are on duty and contactable 24/7, 365 days a year and our SafeZone app allows students to request assistance from their phone, from anywhere on campus. The team’s Walking Taxi Service is popular too and helps our students feel even safer as they move around.

Wellbeing support

Your child will be independent at Kent, but they won’t ever be on their own. While we have facilities to keep them physically healthy, their personal and emotional wellbeing is very important to us too. Our experienced advisers offer a range of support with disabilities, mental health and Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD). For more information, visit www.kent.ac.uk/student-support

Student finance and budgeting

Your child may be entitled to different types of financial support from the UK government and Kent including scholarships and bursaries. If they apply for government funding, you will be asked to provide information about your household income in the previous tax year. Please see p147 for additional funding information.

Accommodation

From January, your child can apply for accommodation at Kent if they have chosen us as either their firm or insurance university. They are also guaranteed an offer of on-campus accommodation if they apply by 30 June. For further details, please see p145 or visit www.kent.ac.uk/accommodation

Their future career

Our Careers and Employability Service support with career planning, work experience, volunteering and graduate jobs. And with over 600 careers events throughout the year, your child will have many opportunities to make connections with employers. They can use our services for three years after graduation, even if it’s just for a few tips and techniques before they go for that career-changing interview.

More information for you

For further guidance on the application process, advice on how to help your child prepare for university and to register for updates, please visit our parent and carer webpages www.kent.ac.uk/parents

“I felt very safe at Kent. Campus Security look out for you and will even walk you back to your room at night if you’re studying late in the library, for example. I was taken care of and that made the transition to university far easier.”

Helping your child prepare Year 12 September – February

This is a good time to start a conversation about the subjects your child likes and what career they have in mind. Discuss location too – how far from home are they prepared to go to study? This will help to narrow their choices.

January – June

Once they have thought about location, encourage your child to start researching courses in more detail. They should look at module content; method of assessment; placement years and career prospects.

As part of this research, most schools and colleges arrange for their Year 12 students to attend higher education exhibitions, such as UCAS and UK University Search. Check that your child is aware of these opportunities or encourage them to register individually.

June – July

Universities will hold their summer Open Days around this time. Open Days help your child to get a feel for a university and what it has to offer. You can book your Kent Open Day at: www.kent.ac.uk/visit This is an ideal time for your child to start planning and writing their personal statement too.

Year 13 September

Applications for 2023 entry will open via UCAS. If your child is undecided, there’s still time to visit on an autumn Open Day before they make their final choices.

January – February

The deadline for your child to submit their UCAS application is 15 January. Funding applications for tuition fees and maintenance loans will open via Student Finance England shortly after.

May

Your child’s deadline for making their firm and insurance choices is mid-May. Make sure they consider these carefully and notify universities on their UCAS Track.

July – August

Exam results. If your child’s grades are lower than expected, they can choose to take part in Clearing. It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with this process in case you need to help on results day.