Parents/Carers

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 events 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

Booklet

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Students’ Guide to University 2024The key higher education facts for students thinking about university from UniTasterDays.comView
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.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۔

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.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.

Download

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.Download
Student Finance CalculatorA student finance calculator produced by the government, which shows how much entitlement is available based on household income.View

Sessions

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Benefits of Higher Education- RecordingThis is a recording of our parent and carer session which took place on the 17th of October. This session covers the benefits of higher education and how higher education can open doors for young people and adults.View
Slides– Making the most of open daysThese slides are from our parent and carer session which took place on 23rd May. This session covers the factors that go into making a HE course choice, and how to make the most of open days to gather the information a student needs to make informed decisions about their choices.Download
Recording – Making the most of open daysThis is a recording of our parent and carer session which took place on 23rd May. This session covers the factors that go into making a HE course choice, and how to make the most of open days to gather the information a student needs to make informed decisions about their choices.View
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.View
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.View
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.View
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.View
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.Download
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.View

Case Study

NameDescriptionLink
The Benefits of Higher Education- A Parent’s Perspective- JamieJamie, one of the Engagement managers at HeppSY, discusses his experience of the benefits that Higher education has provided for his children.Download
The Benefits of Higher Education- Graduates’ PerspectiveSome of our new graduate interns share their experiences on the benefits of going to Higher Education.Download
Higher education open days – a parent’s perspective – TanweerOur parent ambassador, Tanweer, discusses her experience of the benefits of attending open days and some top tips.Download
Higher education open days – a student’s perspective – CharlotteOur Student Ambassador, Charlotte, discusses her experience of attending open days.Download
Scholarships and bursaries – a student’s perspective – JonathanOur Student Ambassador, Jonathan, discusses accessing a student carer's bursary at UniversityDownload
Parent and carers’ guide to student finance – a student’s perspective – MarthaOur Higher Education Engagement Assistant, Martha, discusses her experiences of Student Finance.Download
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.Download
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.Download

Newsletter for parents/carers and supporters

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Benefits of Higher Education, Graduates & Parent’s Perspective- September 2024 EditionIn this edition we look at the benefits of higher education from the perspective of graduates and a parent. We also share about our upcoming events.Download
“Making the most of open days” – May 2024 editionIn this edition we hear about open days and get the perspective of our parent and student ambassadors.Download
“Parent and Carers Guide to Student Finance” – January 2024 editionIn this edition we hear about the funding available to your young person and we hear a student's perspective from our Engagement Assistant, Martha.Download
“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.Download
“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.Download
“Accessing support at higher education” – January 2023 editionIn this edition we look at how to access different types of support services at higher education.Download

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