Parents/Carers

Higher Education: A Guide for Parents and Carers

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Do you have questions or concerns about your child’s future choices? Are you unsure how to support their decision making? Have you considered their options of progression into higher education?

Parents and carers have a huge influence on young peoples’ life choices, including their future progression. This can be difficult and confusing to navigate, particularly if you haven’t got experience of higher education yourself, or things have changed since you were in that position. Perhaps you have concerns about student finance and the cost of higher education. You may be worried about their additional academic or personal needs, and you’re not sure if higher education would be able to support these needs.

These are all normal and expected worries; most parents and carers have many similar concerns. We are here to provide the information that you need, to help your young person make the right choices for them. We specialise in helping people (parents and carers included!) find out more about higher education. This doesn’t always mean university; it could be college courses or apprenticeships, check out our Hepp Connects page for more information about events related to you.

Download our booklets (below) with lots of tips and information, to help you support your child to start exploring, and understanding their options. Or visit our partners’ websites where you can find out more about their offers:

Sheffield Hallam University – Information for parents and carers

The University of Sheffield – Information for parents and carers


Supporting young people and adults into higher education

Myth Busting

Myth Busting

Watch

Applying to Higher Education through UCAS

Applying to Higher Education through UCAS

Watch

Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Higher Education

Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Higher Education

Watch

Access & Routes into Higher Education

Access & Routes into Higher Education

Watch

Student Finance for Refugee Students

Student Finance for Refugee Students

Watch

Support at Higher Education

Support at Higher Education

Watch

Benefits of Higher Education

Benefits of Higher Education

Watch

Mature Students

Mature Students

Watch

Disabled Students Allowance

Disabled Students Allowance

Watch

Care Leavers

Care Leavers

Watch

Young Carers

Young Carers

Watch

Film

Hepp Benefits of Higher Education Film

Hepp Benefits of Higher Education Film

Watch

Hepp Higher Education Myth-busting Film

Hepp Higher Education Myth-busting Film

Watch

Hepp Choices & Pathways Film

Hepp Choices & Pathways Film

Watch

Hepp Student Finance 2020/21

Hepp Student Finance 2020/21

Watch

Booklet

NameDescriptionLink
Higher Education: A Guide for Parents and CarersA guide for parents and carers to help support your young person to make informed decisions regarding their choices around higher education.
To Go or Not To Go? The Hepp Guide to Higher EducationHepp guide to higher education. In this booklet there is information about student finance, benefits of higher education, student life, choices and pathways, degree apprenticeships and degrees in colleges.
To Go or Not To Go? The Hepp Guide to Higher Education (Urdu)

اعلی تعلیم کے لئے Hepp گائڈ جو اردو میں ترجمہ ہوا ہے۔ اس کتابچے میں طلباء کی مالی اعانت ، اعلی تعلیم کے فوائد ، طلباء کی زندگی ، انتخاب اور راستے ، کالجوں میں ڈگری اپرنٹسشپ اور ڈگریوں کے بارے میں معلومات موجود ہیں۔

To Go or Not To Go? The Hepp Guide to Higher Education (Somali)Hepp wuxuu hagayaa tacliinta sare oo lagu turjumay afsoomaali. Buug-yarahaan waxaa ku jira macluumaad ku saabsan maaliyadda ardayda, faa'iidooyinka tacliinta sare, nolosha ardayga, xulashooyinka iyo waddooyinka, barashada xirfadaha iyo shahaadooyinka kulleejooyinka.
To Go or Not To Go? The Hepp Guide to Higher Education (Arabic)

دليل Hepp للتعليم العالي المترجم إلى اللغة العربية. يحتوي هذا الكتيب على معلومات حول تمويل الطلاب ، ومزايا التعليم العالي ، والحياة الطلابية ، والاختيارات والمسارات ، والتدريب المهني للحصول على درجات علمية ، والدرجات العلمية في الكليات.

Information Resource

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“Take a trip during the holiday – visit open days, towns and cities”Open days are a great way of exploring higher education institutions students are interested in - getting a feel for the place, speaking to current students and staff and having a walk around.
Student Finance CalculatorA student finance calculator produced by the government, which shows how much entitlement is available based on household income.

Sessions

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Disabled Student’s Allowance – RecordingThis session which took place on 27th February is for students/parents/carers/teachers and advisers to find out: what Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) is, what forms you need to complete and how to do that and the support provided for disabled students at higher education institutions. Find out why it is important to start the DSA process early in order to make sure all the support you need is in place for when you start your higher education journey.
Parent and Carer Guide to Student Finance – RecordingAs a parent or carer, we know the cost of higher education study can be daunting. Watch this information session from 8th February 2024 where we’ll explain how student finance works for Higher Education. We’ll give you the facts on how much money students can receive as a loan or non-repayable bursary / scholarship, the extra financial support they may be eligible for and repayments.
Parent and Carer Guide to Student Finance – SlidesThese are the slides from our parent and carer information session which took place on 8th February 2024 covers how student finance works for Higher Education. We’ll give you the facts on how much money students can receive as non-repayable bursary / scholarship, the extra financial support they may be eligible for and repayments.
Recording – Supporting disabled students into HEThis is the recording of our Parent and Carer Twilight Session which took place on 28th November 2023. Featuring the disability support teams from Sheffield Hallam University, The University of Sheffield and Barnsley College HE. In this recording you can find out about the support offered at institutions for disabled students, have the opportunity to speak to current disabled students who are studying at a higher education institution and hear how important it is to disclose at an early stage to receive the correct support. It is also an opportunity to receive important up-to-date information on the disability support provided to enable young people to fulfil their aspirations.
Slides – Helping your young person make positive career decisionsThese are the slides from our Parent and Carer Twilight Session which took place on 12th October. This session will help you understand some of the ways you can support your young person to explore career ideas and take positive steps to open up career possibilities.
Recording – Helping your young person make positive career decisionsThis is the recording of our Parent and Carer Twilight Session which took place on 12th October. This session will help you understand some of the ways you can support your young person to explore career ideas and take positive steps to open up career possibilities. There will also be the opportunity to hear from our ambassadors for advice on how to make positive career decisions.
Options After Y11 – SlidesThese are the slides from our parent and carer information session which took place on 29th June 2023. This 30-minute information session aims to explain the difference between BTECs, A Levels and T Levels and the routes into higher education. We discuss the different options available to your young person and how to support your young person with their Post 16 options.
Options after Y11 – RecordingThis is the recording of our parent and carer information session which took place on 29th June 2023. This 30-minute information session aims to explain the difference between BTECs, A Levels and T Levels and the routes into higher education. We discuss the different options available to your young person and how to support your young person with their Post 16 options.
Entry requirements and personal statements – SlidesThese are the slides from our parent and carer information session which took place on 29th September 2022. This 30 minute information session discusses the range of entry requirements needed for higher education and the importance of a personal statement, what makes a good personal statement and planning ahead for a higher education application. This recording is applicable to parents and carers of secondary aged students with a focus for Y10 onwards.
Entry requirements and personal statements – RecordingThis Hepp parent and carer session took place on 29th September 2022. This 30 minute information session discusses the range of entry requirements needed for higher education and the importance of a personal statement, what makes a good personal statement and planning ahead for a higher education application. This recording is applicable to parents and carers of secondary aged students with a focus for Y10 onwards.
Open days and clearing – why they are important for your young personIn this 30 minute information session you'll find out why open days are important, what to expect at one and how your young person can make the most of them. We'll also explain Clearing, which is used by 70,000 students each year to find a place on a university level course at the end of the academic year before they are due to start the course. You will hear from our student and parent ambassadors who will share their experiences and what they found useful.
Funding Support for Disabled Students- SlidesThese are the slides used in the below recorded session for students/parents/carers/teachers and advisers to find out: what Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) is, what forms you need to complete and how to do that and the support provided for disabled students at higher education institutions. Find out why it is important to start the DSA process early in order to make sure all the support you need is in place for when you start your higher education journey.
How can I support my child through their Higher Education application? SlidesThese are the slides from our parent and carer information session which covers how and where students apply for HE courses, and how you can support them as a parent or carer.
The benefits of higher education and how can I support my child to get there? SlidesThese are the slides from our parent and carer information session that covers different routes into Higher Education and its social, academic and employment benefits.
The benefits of higher education and how can I support my child to get there? RecordingJoin us for this 30 minute parent and carer information session where you’ll hear about the different routes into Higher Education and its social, academic and employment benefits. You’ll hear from student ambassadors on their experience and why they chose Higher Education, plus parent ambassadors will share hints and tips that worked for them supporting their child make decisions on their next steps.
How can I support my child through their Higher Education application? RecordingJoin us for this 30 minute information session where you’ll hear how and where students apply for HE courses, and how you can support them as a parent or carer. You’ll hear from parent ambassadors and student ambassadors on their experience and they will share their hints and tips.

Case Study

NameDescriptionLink
Scholarships and bursaries – a student’s perspective – JonathanOur Student Ambassador, Jonathan, discusses accessing a student carer's bursary at University
Parent and carers’ guide to student finance – a student’s perspective – MarthaOur Higher Education Engagement Assistant, Martha, discusses her experiences of Student Finance.
Supporting your young person to make positive career choices – a student’s perspective – RubyOur Higher Education Engagement Assistant, Ruby, discusses her experiences making positive career choices.
Supporting your young person to make positive careers choices – a careers advisor’s perspective – DanDan is a qualified careers advisor and these are his top tips for supporting your young person to make positive careers choices.
Stressbusting for exams – a student’s perspective – ReubenOur Higher Education Engagement Assistant, Reuben, discusses coping with exam stress.
Accessing Wellbeing, Support Services and Academic Support at University – a student’s perspective – JennahOur Higher Education Engagement Assistant, Jennah, discusses accessing wellbeing, support services and academic support at University.
Accessing DSA Support at University – a student’s perspective – AnnaOur Student Ambassador, Anna, discusses accessing DSA Support at University
The benefits of higher education – a parent’s perspective – SamyaOur parent ambassador, Samya, discusses her experience of the benefits her children enjoy attending higher education.
The benefits of higher education – a student’s perspective – GraceOur Higher Education Engagement Assistant, Grace, discuss the benefits she enjoyed by attending higher education.

Newsletter for parents/carers and supporters

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“Making positive career choices” – September 2023 editionIn this edition we hear from a careers advisor about how to support your young person to make positive career choices and we hear a student's perspective from our Engagement Assistant, Ruby.
“Stressbusting for exams” – May 2023 editionIn this edition we look at tips to help with exam stress and hear about stressbusting from our Engagement Assistant, Reuben.
“Accessing support at higher education” – January 2023 editionIn this edition we look at how to access different types of support services at higher education.
“Benefits of Higher Education” – October 2022 editionIn this edition we look at the benefits of higher education from the perspective of a parent and a student.
“How to support your learner during revision season!” – April 2022 editionThe summer edition of our newsletter provides tips for supporting your learner through revision season
“How to help your child/children make decisions for upcoming school and higher education deadlines” – January 2022 editionThis edition of our newsletter provides information on decision making for both Y9 and Y11 students. We also hear from a care experienced student ambassador about their experience in higher education and the support available.
“How to help your child/children research the Higher Education options and support available” – September 2021 editionThis edition of our newsletter provides information and tips on open days and the different types of support available at a higher education institution.
“How to get ahead over the summer” July 2021 editionThis edition looks at what you can do to support your young person over the summer. It is a good time to take a look at places your child might think of studying. You can also think about studying; it's never too late to learn! Why not have a look at the opportunities for yourself.
“Yes You Can!” – June 2021 editionIntroduction to our newsletter which will provide parents, carers and supporters with impartial information to help your young people on their journey into higher education.

Shape your Future

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Shape Your FutureA guide to regional labour market information. In this booklet there is guidance about growth sectors, routes and pathways into various careers.

HeppFEST Reloaded is LIVE! Rediscover four days of FREE sessions to inspire, motivate and increase the confidence of students on their journey to Higher Education. Visit website