My guide for parents with children moving to Falmouth University

This article was written by Dance & Choreography BA(Hons) student Lucy.

It can be a very daunting time for students moving away from home for the first time to go to university and support from parents throughout this process can be a big help in having the confidence to do so.

Being in the corner of England, the majority of people I have met at university have had to travel large distances to come to Falmouth. I think this is part of what makes the community so strong here since most of us are in the same boat, sometimes having feelings of being homesick. Here is my guide as a current student for parents whose children are moving to Falmouth for university!

1. Helping out with research

There are lots of things to consider when coming to university. Webinars are available for both parents and prospective students to gain more information on funding, accommodation, student life etc. These are held by University staff as well as current students here, which gives you a good insight into what it is really like here. There are lots of resources available for students, such as the Wellbeing and Student Mentor teams, as well as the plethora of events throughout Welcome Week. This is a chance for students to meet each other, no matter what they enjoy getting up to. Reminding your child of these before moving down would be useful. In addition, my mum also came with me on an Open Day, which was useful to get to know the campus and overall atmosphere. For me, knowing that my mum was interested and was happy with my choice, really made me more confident and excited to come to Falmouth. A parent’s presence during this process is important to guide your child during a time of change. Even just preparing them for smaller responsibilities within university life, such as meal planning, budgeting or doing the laundry, is a tiny but extremely helpful tool.

2. Getting settled on Move-In Weekend

The majority of students have someone with them to help move in and it really helps with getting settled into their new life. There are a fair few administration tasks that need to be done in the first few days, and having an extra pair of hands (especially with all the belongings you need to bring!) really makes all the difference. If your young person is moving into halls of residence, this would also be when they would meet their new flatmates, so I think it's important to also give them some room to socialise themselves too! It can feel daunting to leave them to it and say goodbye, but it is the first step towards their own independence and getting used to their university life for the next few years.

3. Checking in...

Everyone balances it differently, but staying in contact with your young person (reaching out, asking questions, just saying 'hello') is a nice way to show you are thinking of them. Lots of courses also have Instagram pages, so you could see what type of things they are up to day-to-day. With the new intensity of workload, lots of new faces, and just having a blast, they might not be in contact as often as you’d like. However, I feel as though there is a lot of comfort in knowing that Falmouth is in the top 5 safest Universities in the UK (Complete University Guide 2025), with the 24/7 access to the Safety and Support team across campus, SafeZone app, and Cornwall being generally a safe, close-knit-community area. There are plenty of staff members at the University to contact if you have any genuine concerns for your child’s wellbeing. It can also be useful to check in with your young person about other things like finances, as this can be a big stressor for students. Sometimes you can't actively help or fix every issue, but just being there to listen is often enough to help your child feel supported.