From open days to results day
Supporting your child through university applications can feel overwhelming, especially if higher education is new to your family, or the rules, have changed since you applied. You want to make the best decisions for their future but knowing where to start isn’t always easy. This guide walks you through each stage of the UCAS journey, helping you understand what to expect, when key decisions happen and how you can support your child with confidence.
Whether they're just starting to explore their options or counting down to results day, we're here to help.
Year 12 - first year of college - Spring and Summer
Exploring options and discovering what's possible
This is the stage where students usually begin thinking seriously about their next steps. They may not know exactly what they want to study yet, and that's completely normal.
What your child may be doing
- Exploring different subjects and career options.
- Attending university open days.
- Researching courses and universities.
- Building experiences, skills and achievements they can draw on in future applications.
How you can help
- Encourage them to keep an open mind.
- Attend open days together and ask questions, there will be things you think of that they won’t.
- Talk about what matters most to them in a university experience.
- Focus on their interests, strengths and ambitions rather than specific institutions.
Support tip - It is often easier to choose the right university once your child has identified the course and career path that excites them most.
Year 13 - second year of college - September to December
Completing the UCAS application
During the autumn term, students begin making important decisions about where and what they would like to study.
What your child maybe doing
- Finalising course choices
- Writing their personal statement
- Completing and submitting their UCAS application
- Speaking with teachers and advisers about predicted grades
How you can help
- Help them manage deadlines and stay organised
- Encourage them to start their application early
- Offer feedback on their personal statement if they ask
- Celebrate progress rather than aiming for perfection
Support tip - Try not to compare your child's choices with those of siblings, friends or your own university experience. Higher education has changed significantly, and every student's journey is unique.
Receiving Offers
After your child submits their application, universities start reviewing it and making their offers.
Students may receive:
- Conditional offer: their place is guaranteed if they achieve specific exam grades.
- Unconditional offer: their place is secured immediately, regardless of their final grades.
- Interview or review invite: the university wants to meet them for an interview, audition, or portfolio review before making a final decision.
How you can help
When offers start arriving, it can be tempting to focus on rankings or reputation. Instead, encourage your child to consider the bigger picture.
Think about:
- Course content
- Graduate outcomes
- Student support services
- Placement opportunities
- Accommodation options
- Campus environment
Remember - The best university is not necessarily the most prestigious one. It's the one that feels right for your child and helps them achieve their goals.
Understanding student finance
Students can apply for student finance before confirming their university place.
For many parents, this can feel like one of the most confusing parts of the process.
You may need to
- Provide household income information.
- Complete supporting documentation.
- Help your child understand key deadlines.
- Learn how tuition fee and maintenance loans work.
Support tip - Starting the application early can help avoid last-minute stress and ensure everything is in place before university begins.
Applying for accommodation
After accepting an offer, many students begin exploring accommodation options.
This is often one of the first opportunities they'll have to think about living independently.
Questions to discuss together
- Would they prefer university-managed halls or private accommodation?
- Would they like shared facilities or an en-suite room?
- What budget feels realistic?
- How important is location and travel time?
Support tip - Accommodation is about more than a room. Consider community, support, safety and the overall student experience.
Choosing firm and insurance choices
This is one of the most important decisions in the UCAS process. Students will select:
- Firm choice: the university and course they want to attend most.
- Insurance choice: Their backup, usually a course with lower grade entry requirements, just in case they miss the entry conditions for their firm choice.
How you can help
- Support rather than direct the decision
- Talk through both practical and personal considerations
- Encourage independent decision-making
- Help them feel confident about whichever path they choose
Results day
For many families, results day can feel like the biggest moment of the university journey.
If everything goes to plan, your child's place may be confirmed immediately.
If results are different from expectations, there are still plenty of options available, including Clearing.
What parents can do on results day
- Stay calm and positive
- Listen before offering advice
- Encourage your child to speak directly with universities
- Focus on opportunities rather than setbacks
- Remember that a different route does not mean a worse outcome
Support tip - The most valuable thing you can offer on results day is reassurance. Your child will remember how supported they felt, regardless of the outcome.
Common parent questions
What if my child changes their mind?
This happens more often than you might think. Many students reconsider courses, universities or career plans throughout the application process. Exploring different options is a normal part of making an informed decision.
What if they do not get the grades they need?
Alternative routes may still be available, including Clearing, foundation years or other course options.
How many universities can they apply to through UCAS?
Students can typically apply for up to five courses through UCAS in the main UCAS cycle and one clearing application.
Should I help choose their university?
Your role is to guide, support and ask questions. The final decision should belong to them.
Top 10 questions you should ask at an open day
Open Days are a great opportunity to understand what life at university is really like.
Consider asking:
- What wellbeing and mental health support is available?
- What careers support do students receive?
- What accommodation options are available?
- What is included in tuition fees?
- Are placements or work experience opportunities available?
- What do graduate outcomes look like?
- What academic support services are offered?
- What might a typical week of study look like?
- How easy is it to travel to and around the city?
- What do current students enjoy most about studying here?
Suggest your child speaks directly with current students, it might be easier for them to ask the questions they have to someone closer to their age, who is there.
Parent UCAS Checklist
Before results day, have you:
- Attended at least one Open Day?
- Familiarised yourself with key UCAS deadlines?
- Learned about student finance?
- Discussed accommodation options?
- Encouraged independent decision-making?
- Prepared for results day?
- Remembered that there is more than one route to success?
