Is university the right choice?
Deciding whether university is right for your student is their choice, but your advice can help them understand the importance of that life-changing decision.
Why should they go to university?
Going to university is about more than getting a degree. It's about discovering who they are, what they love doing, and their capabilities.
Here are just a few ways that university can help shape their future:
- Today’s job market is more competitive than ever, with a range of skilled professions requiring a degree as standard.
- They’ll be living and working with people from across the globe – making friends for life and building networks that will open doors for their careers.
- They’ll get a taste of independence and freedom to grow by moving to a new city, experiencing new cultures and finding their new home away from home.
- University offers countless opportunities to get involved and try new things. From joining sports clubs and societies, volunteering for the local community and gaining work experience.
Why should they go to NTU?
Here are just some of the reasons your student may choose NTU:
- NTU is ranked Top 5 in the UK for employability (Uni Compare 2027). In and outside of their studies, we’re here to nurture and encourage your student — from what they’re learning on their course, to what they’re learning about themselves.
- They’ll learn from experienced, real-world practitioners. Our courses have been built in collaboration with industry experts and accrediting bodies, and all include employer-facing work experience as standard.
- We’re one of the UK’s largest and most applied-to universities. Enjoy Gold-rated teaching, long-lasting employability support, incredible extracurricular opportunities, and life in one of the country’s top 6 student cities.
- Nottingham is friendly, compact, and fantastically well-positioned. With an energetic community of more than 60,000 students — it’s a city that’ll urge them to grow and try something new.
Find out more about why NTU is a great choice, or visit us on an Open Day to see for yourself.
5x University of the Year
Recognised by students and awarding bodies, we’re dedicated to making a real difference. We’ve won the UK ‘University of the Year’ title five times in six years. These honours acknowledge our commitment to research, teaching, student experience, and graduate success.
Paying for university — myth busting
Money can be a tricky subject to navigate with your student, and funding can be a concern for many parents, carers and guardians. Some of the common concerns we see, and more information, are below.
How much can my student receive?
Using the Gov.uk Student Finance Calculator, you can check how much they're likely to receive. Encourage your young person to check their Student Finance account regularly, as they may be in touch with updates or request further evidence, and any action required can often only be taken by the applicant.
If you're supporting your student's application, you'll have your own login to provide supporting information. You should ensure that your National Insurance, pension contributions, and dependents information is up to date, as this can affect how much they are eligible to receive.
They can't afford to go to university
All full-time students are entitled to a tuition fee loan, which covers the full cost of their studies (subject to meeting eligibility requirements). They can also apply for a maintenance loan, which contributes towards their living costs.
For more information, visit the Student Loans Company website.
Sometimes, maintenance loans don't cover all rent and costs your student may face. It can be worth exploring the bursaries and scholarships available with them, as well as looking at our guide to living costs in Nottingham.
Throughout your student's university journey, our Student Money Team is here to help. Money advice appointments can help with maximising income, budgeting and advising on additional funds to which they may be entitled, as well as more complex funding issues.
They'll leave loaded with debt
The cost of higher education and the price paid are two different things. They will only start paying their loan back after they leave university and are earning above the repayment threshold, and only a percentage of income above that threshold. You can find out more about repayment arrangements and interest rates on the Student Loan Repayment website. The earliest they'll start repaying their loan will be the April after they leave their course.
After a period of time, and in some circumstances, student loans are written off. You can find out more about this on the Student Loan Repayment website.
It could affect their credit rating
You might worry about how their credit rating will be affected by having student loans. It’s good to know that student loans won't affect their credit rating as they don’t appear on credit files.
The next steps
Open days and events
Our open days and events are the perfect way to see for yourself what makes life and learning at NTU so special. We can't wait to meet you.
Supporting their UCAS application
What happens, and when? Find out about the UCAS tariff, key dates, and what happens after results day.
Advice for helping a student through Clearing
We're here to give guidance to parents, carers, teachers and advisers who are supporting a student through Clearing - from results day to enrolment.