With A-level exam results behind us, many students will have celebrated the success of getting into their chosen university. Now is the time that many parents will be preparing to send their children off into the world of lectures, deadlines and late nights. From signing forms to organising your child's gadget insurance, there is a lot to take into consideration. If they are moving away there is the added element of moving to a new place which could potentially be hundreds of miles away.

To ensure that both you and your child are prepared for this transition, The Complete University Guide* has provided information that will help you to prepare for their leaving. Parents can help their children to prepare for their new life ahead of them by:

• Improving their confidence in the kitchen
• Ensuring that they are disciplined and confident in budgeting
• Arranging insurance (many household insurance policies don't cover possessions taken to university)
• Organising a TV licence

For live-at-home students 

• Give them space
• Don't be surprised if they don't come home at night - they're likely to be on a friend's couch in the University halls
• Set boundaries and clear rules for them letting you know their whereabouts to avoid worry
• Budgeting is just as important as it is for those who have moved away

Should my child have a job whilst at university?

Students can access almost £7000 in loans to support living costs. University is about learning, studying and making new friends. 10 hours a week of part time work should be more than enough to support themselves through their studies.

What about insurance? Insuring their gadgets could save up to £2000

According to a recent study by NUS and Endsleigh Insurance, students carry more than £1,000 of gadgets on them every single day including laptops, mobile phones and tablets.  

With this amount of hi-tech equipment within easy reach of opportunistic thieves it is no surprise that 1 in 10 students have had their gadgets stolen whilst at university, and 20% of those students being robbed of between £1,500 and £2,000 according to a UNiDAYS poll of 2,399 people. 

However, following these easy steps could reduce the risk of gadget-theft and keep your possessions safe: 

• Avoid drawing attention to your possessions when walking in crowded areas or around campus
• Do not keep light or small gadgets in your pockets that can be easily accessed by pickpockets
• Make sure you take your possessions with you even if you're leaving your seat for a short time e.g going to the loo at the library or grabbing a coffee
• Take out specialist insurance - most of the gadgets stolen at university are NOT covered on parental home policies