How can I help my young person prepare for university move-in day?

Moving to university is a huge milestone for your whole family. Getting the practical bits sorted early takes the pressure off move-in day. This gives your young person breathing space to settle in, meet their flatmates, and start feeling at home.

You don't have to figure it all out alone. From online portals that walk your young person through registration to staff and student helpers on arrival day, there's plenty of guidance available at every step to keep things straightforward.

What tasks does my young person need to complete before arrival?

Run through this pre-arrival checklist together to help them stay on top of the admin.

Complete online enrolment and IT setup: Your young person needs to confirm their details, set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) and complete online registration before arriving on campus. Step-by-step instructions are available in our enrolment portal guide.

Check student email accounts: Official updates, arrival slots and Welcome Week timetables go directly to their student email. Encourage them to check this inbox regularly throughout August and September.

Register tech and valuables: Register laptops, smartphones and bicycles on Immobilise.com before packing. This free national database helps police return lost or stolen property.

Review insurance coverage: Check whether your existing home insurance policy covers your young person's belongings while away at university. If not, check hall insurance terms to confirm coverage limits for high-value items.

How can I help my young person pack for university?

Moving to campus means making smart choices about what to bring without overloading their room or buying unnecessary items.

Check provided appliances: Check accommodation inventories before buying kitchen gear. Shared kitchens usually supply kettles, toasters and microwaves, so buying duplicate appliances wastes space and money.
Stick to essential items for semester one: Focus on core bedroom, kitchen and bathroom basics for the first few weeks. They can always pick up extra items or bring seasonal clothes back after their first visit home.
Use our interactive tool: Download our interactive packing checklist to tick off essential items directly on your phone.

How can I help my young person manage their money?

Helping your young person set up a simple financial routine before they start university makes balancing rent, groceries and social life easier.

Plan for everyday costs: Help them factor routine expenses into early plans, such as weekly food shops, laundrette costs, travel passes and course supplies.
Use digital banking pots: Encourage them to use app-based accounts like Monzo or
Starling. These allow students to split their Maintenance Loan into separate digital ‘pots’ or ‘spaces’ for rent and bills so money lasts the full term.
Use shared top-up cards for support: Apps like Hyperjar or Revolut let you set up specific digital cards or shared allowance spaces for essential items like groceries, making it easy to send extra support when needed.
Track shared flat expenses: Suggest using apps like Splitwise to track shared household purchases (such as cleaning supplies or toilet roll) so flatmates can settle debts without conflict.
Verify loan details: Read our guide on how to pay for university for exact Maintenance Loan payment dates and instalment amounts.

Banks and budgeting apps are constantly changing. Do your research before signing up and check for fees and hidden charges before registering.

What should we expect on move-in day?

Here's how to make drop-off day run smoothly:

Stick to assigned arrival time slots: Arriving within your allocated window helps keep traffic moving and ensures you can access drop-off parking zones.
Collect keys and check in: Staff and student helpers will be on hand to welcome you, verify ID and hand over room keys.
Follow hall decoration rules: Remind your young person that wall-adhesive and picture nails aren't allowed in university-owned accommodation. Using freestanding photo frames or corkboards prevents end-of-tenancy repair charges.
Keep goodbyes positive: Focus on celebrating their achievement and trusting the preparation you've done together.