Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
Almost All Parents Worried About University
Moneymagpie Team
23rd Jul 2025
New research by Now Students revealed that a huge 98% of parents have concerns about sending their child away to university. More than natural reservations about the first time they leave home, the financial, academic, and social pressures make parents think twice about sending their child to further education.
| Financial Pressures for Students | Academic Performance Worries |
| Student Safety Concerns | Tips for Concerned Parents |
| Social Pressures and Fitting In |
Financial Pressures for Students
University is usually the first time people leave home and are responsible for managing day-to-day expenses. This means it can be a steep learning curve when discovering how budgeting is important, and that emergency funds are essential.
While their child may have had summer jobs or part-time work, parents are acutely aware that the income of student loans and grants is often the first time they have been responsible for large lump sums of money in their bank account. That would be why almost half (47%) cite financial pressures as their main worry about their child attending university.
University also brings with it its own financial challenges. Those who can’t access full loans and grants will need to find the money to pay some or all of their tuition and accommodation fees. While getting a job is great for life skills, it can disrupt studies – negating the point of spending thousands of pounds each year if their child becomes more focused on paid work than their academics. Keep reading to find out how to mitigate some of the financial fears of uni.
Student Safety Concerns
Parents will naturally worry, but the research showed that 40% of parents had extra concerns about the safety of their child when they attend university. The lack of supervision and restrictions or rules can mean students overindulge, especially on cheap booze nights at clubs and pubs. This increases the dangers to them, not only for violent crimes like robbery and assault, but also for accidents that could bring them to harm while they’re having fun.
Students who have led more sheltered lives may also not be aware of their surroundings when they’re out and about at night, or less aware of scams online that could impact their finances and put their bank account at risk.
Parents can make sure to talk with their child before university begins, about safety awareness behaviour. They may already know, and even roll their eyes! But making sure they have had important conversations about staying safe can help both, as parents will ease their mind and their child might still learn something new about staying safe.
Social Pressure and Fitting In
Living with other people for the first time, whether in student halls or private rentals, brings a whole new range of challenges. Add to that the need to make new friends, get to know people on their course, and find ways to fit in, and it’s no wonder that 74% of parents are worried about their child’s social life at university.
Social pressures can also have an impact on finances, as students try to fit in with others. That might be buying extra rounds at the pub, lending friends money, or even simply being left with an expensive damage bill from a party in their accommodation that they didn’t even cause (the Magpie team may be speaking from experience on this one…)!
This is the one concern that parents have to relinquish their worries over. Talking to their child about the importance of protecting their own finances, setting boundaries, and finding compromises with shared living arrangements can all help. However, finding their own way and social groups will involve some life lessons; all parents can do is be ready to provide support and guidance when their child asks for it.
Academic Performance Worries
Just over a third (31%) of parents worry about academic achievement and pressure when their child goes to university. It’s the first time they will be entirely responsible for managing their days, splitting hours between study, social, and (often) paid work.
Putting strategies in place to manage academic stress can help take away some of the concern. For example, if a child required extra help in school and college, parents can speak to Student Services at the university to find out if they are eligible for support or a Disabled Student Allowance.
Even high achieving students often struggle with the shift from regimented school and college timetables to the freedom of living on their own and managing their time. Talking to children about time management techniques, such as building in rest time or always allowing more time for a task than they anticipate it will take, can help reduce the stress.
Tips for Concerned Parents
There are lots of ways parents can overcome their worries about their child going to university. Most involve keeping communication open with their child, before the semester starts and while they’re away.
Discuss Budgeting and Student Finance
Parents should be sure to explain how budgets and student finance works to their child. One common financial pitfall is the student credit card. It’s the first time they have a line of credit available: and many don’t realise it’s not ‘free money’, often finding out too late about repayments and interest charges.
Encourage Money Saving Techniques
To help keep their child financially aware, parents should help their child understand how to save money even on a tight budget. The importance of an emergency fund can’t be overstated! Even if parents are able to financially support their child, it’s important to let them think they must work out their money on their own. This will teach essential financial skills – and parents can always help out if things turn bad.
Encouraging students to get a TOTUM card, which gives them access to student discounts online and in store, is a great way to improve their money savvy tendencies. A great habit, if they can afford to, is to siphon off the amount they saved into a savings account. This will teach them how to budget while also create an emergency fund.
Help Them Find Flexible Part-Time Work
Parents can help their child support their income with part-time work by looking for side hustles and leads for remote and flexible jobs that they could apply for. These are the best jobs for students, because it’s easier to work them around study obligations.
Another great option is – of course! – to signpost their child to websites like MoneyMagpie, that help them discover ways to make money. It could be small amounts from taking surveys or new side hustles in their chosen industry to start building relevant work experience before graduation.
Let Them Know It’s OK to Fail
While parents are focused on worrying about their child’s success, it can put a lot of pressure on their child to Not Fail – which can be just as damaging.
Many students feel they can’t admit to their parents that they are struggling with adapting to university life. Making sure they know they can always talk to their parents with honesty is a great start to building a strong foundation.
And if their child decides university isn’t for them: parents should be clear that it’s OK to come home, to change their mind, and try entering the workforce instead. Sometimes, the pressure to get a degree and stay at university can result in poor mental health: being clear that it’s OK to reassess your choices and make different plans is very important to supporting a student.
Don’t Be a Helicopter Parent
Having weekly arranged Zoom calls or phone calls can really help alleviate both parent and child’s worries about being away at university. It keeps the line of communication open, so they are able to share concerns before they build up into larger worries.
However, unless there is something happening that will significantly impact the student’s academics or finances, parents should avoid being too nosey or interfering. Half the point of going to university is learning life skills – so it’s time to let them tackle their own challenges before stepping in!
Opt for Now Student Living for Accommodation
Now Student Living offers all-inclusive student living with a focus on community and convenience. They provide a hassle-free experience by rolling rent, utilities, and social events into a single payment. With locations in prime city areas, they make it easy for students to thrive and connect.
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