Kids off to university?

Thousands of students will be heading off to university for the first time this autumn. If your child is among them, a bit of preparation before they go can make a big difference to their experience.

For many undergraduates, university is their first real taste of independence, bringing lots of new opportunities and experiences but some challenges too.

These tips will help them make the most of their university days, as well as calming any nerves you may have about them leaving home.

Ready to study

As well as a laptop, pens and a notepad, you might want to get them some extras such as post-its, highlighters and coloured pens. These can be great for picking out key points from their books when studying or revising.

Universities also provide reading lists for many of their courses. It may be worth getting these books in advance or looking out for second-hand copies from last year’s students. Amazon and eBay can be good for cheap deals, but also consider charity shops (especially near a university) and book-swap sites such as BookMooch and BookCrossing.

There’s also plenty of admin to do when they start university, so make sure they have their acceptance letter, student finance documents and ID including a passport or driving licence.

Life tips

You can also help them with some of the life skills they’ll need when they’re away from home. Knowing how to cook a handful of simple, cheap meals can be a great way to save money and make friends at university.

If your child is already able to rustle up some great meals, get them a student cookbook or some kitchen kit like a wok or baking tins so they can show off their skills.

It’s also worth making sure they know how to do their washing. Having clean clothes (that haven’t gone grey or pink in the wash) is a real bonus and may save you from doing a term’s worth of washing when they come home.

Financial tips

Living on a student budget isn’t easy, especially when Save the Student puts average living costs at £1,078 a month – more than double the £510 an average student gets from their maintenance loan.

Given this, having some money management skills can be really valuable. Run them through the basics so they have an idea of what expenses they’re likely to encounter and what they can spend on themselves.

Helping them find a student bank account is a good way to start the budgeting conversation. Although freebies are great, it’s best to focus on the interest-free overdrafts as these will be more beneficial in the long run.

It’s also good to talk to them about their valuables. Thanks to things like laptops, phones and music equipment, a typical student room can easily contain more than £3,000 of belongings. Having to replace items if they’re stolen or damaged can be tricky on a tight budget, so consider insuring them.

Student contents insurance policies are available or you may be able to add their belongings to your own home policy. Speak to your insurer to find out what they can do.

Doing a spot of prep with your child before they leave home can help them get off to a flying start at university.

Visit our home insurance page to find out how we can help cover their belongings while they’re away.