Guidance for parents and supporters

There’s a lot to think about when your young person is thinking about university. Our dedicated support and resources are here to help you help them.

Get your parents guide

A parent sitting with their child at a table at an Open Day, looking at leaflets

What support does the University offer for parents?

Your young person doesn't have to have chosen a university yet, or applied for a course, we'll help you support them through making the right decision. You can still start to get support and guidance from the University now, wherever they are in their journey.

We're here to help you feel informed and confident every step of the way. The university offers dedicated resources for parents and supporters such as:

A parents and supporters guide
A monthly newsletter

Parents and supporters guide

Sign up for more support and you'll first receive the parents guide. It's a practical guide filled with information to help you support your young person. You can refer back to it at different points throughout the application process.

It covers key information such as:

How you can help them
Key dates for students
Accommodation options and what's included
Safety and security information
A university-specific jargon buster.

Monthly newsletter

You'll also get our monthly newsletter, carefully constructed to give you timely, practical advice that you can trust. The newsletter is curated throughout the year to focus on key topics each month.

Via the newsletter we'll help you with:

Supporting your young person in writing their personal statement
Finding the right events to attend
Understanding student finance, cost of living and financial support options.

Visiting us as a parent or supporter

Open days and events are an important part of your young person's decision making process. You'll be able to visit accommodation, see facilities, and explore the city. They're also a chance to understand the community and opportunities that come as part of the university experience.

Open days aren't just for the person applying, accompanying the person you're supporting as a neutral observer can help them to ask the right questions and attend key talks.

Our open days allow for attendees to have a maximum of 2 guests, you'll just need to register attendees at the point of booking online.

There are a few ways to support your young person at a visit:

Help them create a schedule, making sure all relevant talks and tours are included
Look out for any talks that cover your key concerns, such as scholarships, bursaries and other financial support
Act as a sounding board for the person you're supporting and let them ask the questions most relevant to them
Take note of anything that you think is important. The person you're supporting will have lots on their mind, so writing down key information will help them later on.

How to plan your Open Day Support with travel costs Explore life in Sunderland Our scholarships and bursaries

A member of staff talking to a visitor at a University Open Day

An open day visitor getting speaking to a member of staff about scholarships

Students in cityspace during the June open day

Support throughout their time at university

We're here to provide support throughout your young person's university life, from their first weeks making new friends, to starting their career after graduation.

We're keen to make our students feel confident and able to ask for help when they need it. We offer 24/7 online wellbeing support, and alongside this, a wide range of specialist support systems that are accessible for all students.

As a parent or supporter, we may not be able to discuss a student’s specific circumstances with you, but you're able to contact any of our support services, or speak to a member of the team at an open day, to find out more about the services on offer.

Safety on campus

We know that sending your young person to university is a big step. Our full-time security service operates across both Sunderland campuses, providing support and assistance whenever it's needed.

The Campus Security team are contactable 24/7, 365 days a year on 0191 515 2028.

Our support and wellbeing services