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Higher Education: A Guide for Parents and Carers

Type: Booklet

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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

Film

Hepp Benefits of Higher Education Film

Hepp Benefits of Higher Education Film

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Hepp Higher Education Myth-busting Film

Hepp Higher Education Myth-busting Film

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Hepp Choices & Pathways Film

Hepp Choices & Pathways Film

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Hepp Student Finance 2020/21

Hepp Student Finance 2020/21

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Booklet

Name	Description	Rating	Link
Higher Education: A Guide for Parents and Carers	A guide for parents and carers to help support your young person to make informed decisions regarding their choices around higher education.	Rate this resource	Download
To Go or Not To Go? The Hepp Guide to Higher Education	Hepp 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.	Rate this resource	Download
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۔	Rate this resource	Download
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.	Rate this resource	Download
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.	Rate this resource	Download

Information Resource

Name	Description	Rating	Link
“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.	Rate this resource	Download
Student Finance Calculator	A student finance calculator produced by the government, which shows how much entitlement is available based on household income.	Rate this resource	View

Sessions

Name	Description	Rating	Link
Entry requirements and personal statements – Slides	These 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.	Rate this resource	Download
Entry requirements and personal statements – Recording	This 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.	Rate this resource	View
Open days and clearing – why they are important for your young person	In 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.	Rate this resource	View
Funding Support for Disabled Students- Slides	These 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.	Rate this resource	Download
Funding Support for Disabled Students- Recording	This session 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.	Rate this resource	View
Understanding student finance as a parent/carer – Slides	These are the slides from our parent and carer information session which 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.	Rate this resource	Download
Understanding student finance as a parent/carer – Recording	As a parent or carer, we know the cost of higher education study can be daunting. Watch this information session 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.	Rate this resource	View
How can I support my child through their Higher Education application? Slides	These 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.	Rate this resource	Download
The benefits of higher education and how can I support my child to get there? Slides	These are the slides from our parent and carer information session that covers different routes into Higher Education and its social, academic and employment benefits.	Rate this resource	Download
The benefits of higher education and how can I support my child to get there? Recording	Join 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.	Rate this resource	View
How can I support my child through their Higher Education application? Recording	Join 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.	Rate this resource	View

Case Study

Name	Description	Rating	Link
Stressbusting for exams a student’s perspective – Reuben	Our Higher Education Engagement Assistant, Reuben, discusses coping with exam stress.	Rate this resource	View
Accessing Wellbeing, Support Services and Academic Support at University – a student’s perspective – Jennah	Our Higher Education Engagement Assistant, Jennah, discusses accessing wellbeing, support services and academic support at University.	Rate this resource	Download
Accessing DSA Support at University – a student’s perspective – Anna	Our Student Ambassador, Anna, discusses accessing DSA Support at University	Rate this resource	Download
The benefits of higher education – a parent’s perspective – Samya	Our parent ambassador, Samya, discusses her experience of the benefits her children enjoy attending higher education.	Rate this resource	Download
The benefits of higher education – a student’s perspective – Grace	Our Higher Education Engagement Assistant, Grace, discuss the benefits she enjoyed by attending higher education.	Rate this resource	Download

Name	Description	Rating	Link
“Benefits of Higher Education” – October 2022 edition	In this edition we look at the benefits of higher education from the perspective of a parent and a student.	Rate this resource	View
“How to support your learner during revision season!” – April 2022 edition	The summer edition of our newsletter provides tips for supporting your learner through revision season	Rate this resource	Download
“How to help your child/children make decisions for upcoming school and higher education deadlines” – January 2022 edition	This 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.	Rate this resource	Download
“How to help your child/children research the Higher Education options and support available” – September 2021 edition	This edition of our newsletter provides information and tips on open days and the different types of support available at a higher education institution.	Rate this resource	Download
“How to get ahead over the summer” July 2021 edition	This 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.	Rate this resource	Download
“Yes You Can!” – June 2021 edition	Introduction to our newsletter which will provide parents, carers and supporters with impartial information to help your young people on their journey into higher education.	Rate this resource	Download

Shape your Future

Name	Description	Rating	Link
Shape Your Future	A guide to regional labour market information. In this booklet there is guidance about growth sectors, routes and pathways into various careers.	Rate this resource	Download

Relive the best moments of our HeppFest higher education festival from February 2023 here!