Parents & guardians

Information for parents, guardians and carers

As a parent or supporter, you are warmly invited to attend an SRUC open day (or evening) to see our facilities for yourself. You can meet the lecturers and learn about eventual career possibilities. Our friendly staff will be happy to answer any questions you have about

• the application process
• accommodation
• study and pastoral support
• student finance

For further information and dates, please refer to the open days section of the web site.

Alternatively, SRUC is always out and about at Career and Higher Education fairs and local shows and events - our calendar provides details and you are very welcome to drop into one of these and talk to staff.

Please contact our recruitment team for further information and advice.

Once you've seen them safely settled in their new accommodation, you might find your home feels a little empty. For a bit of help making the transition, check out the tips below:

• Don't do it alone. Remember there are hundreds of thousands of parents in the same position as you are now. Talk to the people around you - your friends or partner - who know what you're going through

• Find a new interest. Having invested so much in your children you may find yourself with some free time on your hands. Perhaps there's something you've always wanted to try. You could even go back to university yourself and start a new business venture
  
  
• Keep in touch. You can still to be close to your children even after they have left home. You should try to maintain regular contact through visits, phone calls, emails and text, but also realise that you need to get the balance right so that they have enough space to find their own footing and figure some parts of their new life out themselves

If your children are remaining at home and commuting to their campus it is equally important to give them their independence and allow them to take responsibility for themselves. This will help them develop the maturity and skills they should have as a young adult and will allow them to feel they have moved on from school to a college/University lifestyle.

Chances are your children will take to their new life like a duck to water, but if they aren’t having the time they hoped they would, or if they are experiencing some problems, help is at hand.

There are some useful resources you can call upon, SRUC have an excellent support network through their Year Tutor, support tutors for well-being, financial and study support. You should encourage your children to make contact and speak with someone in the campus who will be more than happy to talk with them and help them through their concerns or difficulties. The worst thing they can do it sit in silence.

Some useful websites:

Student Loans Company (Scotland)
UCAS
Mind your head - student mental health booklet
Student guide to living away from home