A parent guide to the benefits of university

If your child is the first in the family to consider higher education, or if you’re unclear about what their options are, this article will provide more clarity on the benefits of university.

Sending your child away to university is a key life event and can seem daunting if they haven’t left home before, so it’s important to understand the potential benefits of this decision.

University allows students to pursue a passion, focusing on one or two core subjects. This can be an extremely motivating concept after studying multiple subjects at school or college and provides a new academic challenge with a different system of teaching and marking.

Large lectures will introduce students to university-level topics, while smaller tutorial groups will allow for in-depth discussion. Students can also request one to one time with lecturers during open office slots, providing direct academic support.

Higher education degrees can improve career prospects, and universities present graduate prospect data in their prospectuses and marketing materials. Looking at these figures will help your son or daughter compare which degree will provide them with the most job security in the future.

Some courses also offer a year abroad or a year in industry, which students can complete in their third year, making these four-year degree courses. A year abroad can include studying, working or volunteering in a partner organisation, providing a range of experiences to present to employers following graduation. A year in industry may involve a paid placement, offering invaluable work experience and networking connections to use at the end of a degree.

Although daunting, studying in a new place and living away from home could give your child their own independence. They will need to manage their own finances, organise domestic activities like cooking and cleaning, and make friends in an unfamiliar environment. University is a great way to practice these life skills, especially with the help of support teams, including student finance and the students’ union. Friends for life are usually made at university, as socialising in halls, lectures and clubs and societies often connects like-minded people.

As well as domestic skills, university develops students’ key skills. Time management is essential to organising independent study and students will need to use their initiative to join extracurricular activities. Communication skills will also be developed in everything from group tasks to written assignments.

Even if a student will progress into a career that doesn’t directly link to their degree subject, employers universally recognise the transferrable skills that a degree offers.