Guidance for Parents and Advisers
Supporting a young person moving overseas to study can be challenging for them and you, so here are a few answers to questions that may be on your mind.
If you do find this useful, or if you feel we should add or change something, please tell us by emailing international@northampton.ac.uk.
As a guidance counsellor your focus will be firmly fixed on the welfare and best interests of your student, to make sure that you are steering them in the right direction and that they will be safe and settled into life in the UK. When promoting the University of Northampton, we offer personalised, empathetic support tailored to each student’s unique journey. We like to emphasise the university’s strengths in employability and community engagement, and guide students to leverage these opportunities.
Please promote resources such as the Student Futures team, our Immigration Compliance Services team, and our Learning Development team – encouraging students to take full advantage of our available support networks. Remind them to collaborate with academic staff to provide a cohesive support network, addressing both academic and personal challenges.
These are the things that parents of international students worry most about, so make sure you talk to your child or student about them before they leave to start their course. Helping your child or student with a few key life skills like budgeting, a few simple recipes, doing the laundry and being fair about the cleaning will make life much easier for them.
Most of the information and advice in the articles and resources listed below is aimed at the students, rather than their parents, but suggesting to your child or student that they take a look will help them prepare themselves for the big changes ahead.
- The Independent – ‘Here is what a professor wants you to know before you send your child off to university’
- Future Learn – ‘Preparing for Uni’
- Times Higher Education – Student blog: ‘5 tips to make the most of your university experience’
- Times Higher Education – Student blog: ‘what to expect at university’
Supporting our students is central to everything we do. We understand that living away from home as an international student can seem daunting and that it takes some extra adjustment and care. At UON we take pride in our support for students. Our Student Information Desk, located on the ground floor of the Learning Hub, should be the first port of call if your child or student has a question or a problem. Our helpful staff will attempt to resolve problems immediately, if possible, or make appointments with the right team to provide the necessary help and advice.
Student Support Services
To settle any last-minute nerves we contact all new starters to offer pre-departure briefing sessions and send Getting Started guides in the run-up to arrival. Please visit our events page to check our next one.
Once enrolled, our comprehensive support package for students includes Work and Employability, Academic Support, Wellbeing, Study Support, Campus Services and University living, and a dedicated Immigration Compliance Services Team. Mental and emotional health is just as important as physical health, and if your child is experiencing emotional or mental health difficulties our Counselling and Mental Health Team offers drop-in sessions and one-to-one appointments.
Please note, however, that under UK Data Protection laws, our staff cannot discuss any aspect of your child’s experience here at UON with you unless they provide written permission, so you might want to encourage them to provide their consent to allow us to discuss things with you.
Religious tolerance
We are proud to have a multi-ethnic community at the University with many faith groups. Operating as a part of Student Services, we have a Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Team drawn from a number of faith traditions and works for the benefit of all students, regardless of faith, belief, sexuality, or gender. Students are welcome to drop in at any time to talk, meet with others, pray or simply enjoy some quiet time.
English language support
As an international or EU student you have to deal with the language and culture which may be unfamiliar to you whilst quickly adapting to studying in this new environment. Our Educational Linguistics Team is here to support you. They can advise you on how to read academic literature effectively and how to use information obtained from reading to write critically and effectively. You can book an individual one-to-one session with them or to attend their workshops and seminars.
Teaching and Learning
Our focus is on the application of learning, rather than simply acquiring knowledge through mass lectures. So we have smaller class sizes, where students can interact in greater depth with peers and their teachers. In addition to the Immigration Compliance Services Team, all students have a Personal Tutor for advice and can also approach the Students Union for independent advice and support, if they prefer to do so.
Accommodation
International students can apply to live in our halls of residence and the Residential Life Team is on hand to support students throughout their time in halls and help them feel at home. Head over to our Accommodation pages for full details.
If your child or student is looking for private sector accommodation our Housing Team can help. In addition, he or she should read the advice to international students living off-campus.
UON in your Country
We have a wide network of approved advisers around the world and a number of Regional Offices, all of which can provide advice and guidance about coming to Northampton. For country specific guidance, please refer to our UON in Your Country pages.
Our appointed international education agents can provide counselling and guidance to you as a prospective student seeking admission to the University of Northampton.
If you’re considering applying to the University of Northampton with an Education Agent, you can find information about our appointed agents on our Agents Directory.
Is it safe?
Student safety is always our priority. We have a 24/7 University Security Team and a campus Police team for complete peace of mind on campus. Access to all facilities above ground floor level is restricted to ID card holders.
Northampton is also a Purple Flag winner meaning our town centre offers a “diverse, safe and entertaining evening economy.”*
*Association of Town and City Management, 2018, 2019 and 2020
To discover everything Northampton has to offer, from social life to food and drink to local treasures, take a look at our guide to Northamptonshire.
Cost of living
Although just one hour from London by train and close to other major cities such as Birmingham, Leicester and Oxford, Northampton offers a far more affordable life-style. Northampton’s overall cost of living is 49%* lower than London.
*expatistan.com, 2024
International students can also work part-time for up to 20 hours a week, which can help to meet living costs.
Our generous scholarships help to reduce the cost of tuition fees.
Our Financial Guidance team offer free support to all students with any financial concerns.
“I liked that Northampton was close to London but smaller and safe. Northampton has lots of parks and is cheap compared to other cities in the UK. I’ve made great friends – as I came here without my family, I’ve become close to my fellow students.”
Radka Blažíčková, BA Fashion (Textiles for Fashion), Czech Republic
Encourage your child or student to make themselves familiar with the support systems listed above and to make use of them, if necessary, while they are with us. Getting involved with the social life of the University and town through sports clubs, societies, faith groups and the like will help build support networks your child or student can turn to for support, should they need it. The University Counselling Service is also available to support students.
UKCISA (the UK Council for International Student Affairs) offers very comprehensive advice and information for international students and parents on a wide range of topics, including how to deal with Culture shock and Reverse culture shock.
Other useful sources of information include:
- Student Minds – ‘Support for parents’
- International Student – ‘Budgeting’
The University requires that every student under the age of eighteen is supported by a parent/guardian living in the UK. Where a student’s parent/guardian does not live in the UK, the University recommends that the student’s parent/guardian identifies another adult over the age of eighteen living in the UK who would be considered by the University to be the student’s guardian in times of urgent medical or other need. The student will not be permitted to enrol unless contact details of an adult living in the UK has been provided.
Students can locate a guardian using the website of the Association for the Education & Guardianship of International Students. Guardianship organisations do charge for their services and this cost is to be covered by the student.
