Information for parents

Starting university is a significant step and there are many ways you can help your child prepare and make the transition into student life:

• Pre-arrival administration - There are a few things your child needs to do before they come to university. Please familiarise yourself with the Before you arrive checklist.
• What to bring - Our Accommodation Office provides Moving in guides covering what to pack. Resist the urge to pack every kitchen appliance for them. Wait and see what their flatmates have and then they can work out what they are missing as a group.
• Brush up on basic life skills - Get your child to practise these over the summer to lessen the impact of independent living on arrival:
  • Using washing machines
  • Helping with the household shopping
  • Learning a few basic recipes
  • Living on a budget
• Finances - Have a conversation about financial support so that everyone understands when funds will be available (i.e. student loans) and if you will you be providing any. Ensure you understand how and when to pay university fees.
• Keeping in touch- Agree when and how often you will keep in contact. Bear in mind the first week can be very busy.
• Vaccinations - Wherever possible, it is recommended that all students under the age of 25 receive the Meningitis ACWY vaccine before coming to university and have had two doses of the Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination before joining us

Exeter campuses

• Directions to Streatham Campus
• Travelling by car: detailed directions to Streatham Campus (PDF)
• Streatham Campus map
• Directions to St Luke's Campus
• Travelling by car: detailed directions to St Luke's Campus
• St Luke's Campus map
• Information on visitor accommodation in Exeter

Moving in to accommodation: If you are travelling by car and your child will be living in university accommodation, she or he will be allocated a 20 minute slot to park close to the residence and unload. More information on arriving at accommodation can be found on the Accommodation website.  

Penryn campus

• Directions to Penryn Campus
• Penryn Campus map

Moving in to accommodation: If your child will be living in university accommodation, she or he will be contacted by the Accommodation team with details of move in weekend. 

Leaving home for university is a big step and, as the new term approaches, both parents and students will often experience a mixture of emotions. Anxiety and homesickness, as well as euphoria, are all completely normal.

• Keep calm and stay positive.
• Reassure them that it may take a while before they feel completely settled. If they are open to trying new things and meeting new people they are likely to find their niche.
• Remind them that other students are likely to be feeling exactly the same way. Everyone thinks everyone is having a marvellous time all the time and in reality this just can't be the case.
• Not everyone drinks alcohol and this is important to remember. There will be plenty of events that will take place during their time with us that do not include alcohol.
• There is a lot of support available at the University. Sometimes, when students are in the middle of a problem they don't remember this but tackling problems when they are small could avoid bigger issues later. 

For full details of support and services available to students, visit the Health and welfare and Student services directory pages.

If you have serious concerns about your child's safety or wellbeing, please contact our Estate Patrol Security (Exeter Campuses) or Penryn Campus Security (01326 255875 Monday - Friday 09.00-17.00 or FX Plus 24/7 Emergency line 01326 254444). They will pass the information to Student Support staff at the appropriate campus who will, where appropriate, investigate your concerns.

Please note that as students are adults we must respect their privacy and confidentiality and so, unless they give us their consent, we will not be able to provide you with any feedback.

You may be used to receiving information about your son or daughter's student record or academic progress. We welcome students to the University as adults, and as such they are entitled to privacy and confidentiality. This means that without their consent we would not be able to provide you with any information about their record or academic progress.

Students can complete a data release form during registration or after through the Student Record and Registration tile in iExeter (the online portal) which will allow us to share information about fees.

We also will not be able to contact the Student Loan Company on a student's behalf.