Information for Parents and Carers

Your child has received an offer from Abertay. That's a big moment and we know you'll have questions of your own. This page is for you. It covers the things parents and carers most commonly want to know: how funding works, what accommodation options are available, how we support students and what happens next.

We're not going to pretend this is easy. Watching your child make one of the biggest decisions of their life can be nerve-wracking, whether they're the first in your family to go to university or the fifth. We're here to help both of you through the process.

Supporting the decision

Your child may have applied to up to five universities through UCAS. Now that offers are coming in, they need to choose a firm choice (first preference) and an insurance choice (backup). This is their decision, but it's natural for you to want to help.

Things worth discussing together

• What matters most to them: the course, the city, the size of the university, the distance from home?

• Have they visited? If not, encourage them to come to our Offer Holder Day or book a campus visit. Students who visit before deciding are more confident in their choice.

• Are they worried about anything specific? Funding, accommodation, making friends, workload? Most of these have straightforward answers once you know where to look.

• Do they know anyone else going? If not, our offer holder community is a good place to start meeting people before September.

What you can do

The most helpful thing you can do is encourage them to engage with the process. That means visiting if possible, reading the information on the hub, applying for student funding on time and asking questions when they have them. The more prepared they are, the smoother September will be.

Try not to make the decision for them. The research is clear: students who feel ownership of their university choice adjust better and are more likely to stay the course.

How funding works

Scottish students: tuition fees are covered

If your child is a Scottish domiciled student, their tuition fees are paid by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). They don't pay tuition fees at any Scottish university. This is not automatic, though. They need to apply to SAAS each year to confirm their funding.

What your child needs to do

1. Apply to SAAS online at saas.gov.uk when applications open (usually April)

2. Apply before the end of June to ensure funding is in place for September

3. They can apply even if they are still waiting on exam results or have not firmly accepted their offer yet

4. The application takes around 20 minutes and requires their UCAS ID, course details, and bank details

EXPLORE FUNDING

Living costs

SAAS can also help with living costs. Your child may be eligible for:

• Young Students' Bursary: A non-repayable grant towards living costs for students under 25. The amount depends on your household income. This is means-tested, so SAAS may ask for your income details as part of the application. Please check the SAAS website for updated 2026/27 rates.

• Student loan: A loan to cover living costs, repayable after graduation and only once your child is earning above a certain threshold. The repayment is taken from their salary automatically, similar to a tax.

Most Scottish students use a combination of the bursary and the loan. Neither has to be applied for separately, they're both part of the SAAS application.

Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland (rUK)

If your child is from the rest of the UK (rUK), they'll pay tuition fees. The current fee for 2026/27 entry is £9,790 per year. They can apply for a tuition fee loan and maintenance loan through their home funding body (Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, or Student Finance NI). These loans are repaid after graduation, and only once earning above a set threshold.
Abertay also offers Scholarships and bursaries for rUK students to help reduce the overall cost.

EXPLORE SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES

What does it actually cost to live in Dundee?

Dundee is one of the most affordable student cities in the UK. Accommodation, food, transport and social costs are all significantly lower than Edinburgh and Glasgow. A typical monthly spend for a student in Dundee can be as low as £695, 

The biggest saving is transport. Dundee is a compact, walkable city. The campus is in the centre. Most students don't need a car or even a bus pass.

EXPLORE LIVING COSTS

Accommodation

If your child is moving to Dundee, they'll need somewhere to live. Abertay has an agreement with Parker House, a private student accommodation provider within walking distance of campus, or they can rent privately.

Student accommodation

Most student residences include wifi, bills, contents insurance and access to shared social and study spaces. Costs vary depending on the room type. Applications open in Spring, once your child has firmly accepted their offer.

Living at home

Many Abertay students live at home in Dundee or the surrounding area. This is a completely normal and common choice. Students who live at home still have full access to everything on campus: the library, student support, clubs and societies, Freshers' Week, all of it. They will not miss out.

Private renting

Dundee has affordable private rental options, with average student rents significantly lower than other Scottish cities.

EXPLORE ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

How we support students

This is often the question parents really want answered: if my child struggles, who's there for them? The answer is that support is built into the experience from day one. Nobody has to go looking for it or ask for a special referral.

Student Services

Our Student Services team provides confidential support on a wide range of issues:

• Mental health and wellbeing support, including access to counselling

• Disability and learning difference support, including assessment, adjustments and assistive technology

• Financial advice and hardship funding for students who run into unexpected money difficulties

• Careers advice, from CV writing and interview preparation to placement and graduate job support

• International student support, including visa and immigration guidance

Students don't need to be in crisis to use these services. They are there for everyday questions and concerns as much as for emergencies.

Abertay Students' Association

The Abertay Students' Association is run by students for students. It runs clubs and societies, organises social events, provides academic representation and offers advice services. Getting involved in the SA is one of the best ways for your child to settle in and build a social life.

What if my child has a disability or additional support need?

We strongly encourage your child to let us know about any disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difference (such as dyslexia) as early as possible. This means we can have support in place before they arrive. They can disclose this through their UCAS application.

Adjustments might include extra time in exams, note taking support, accessible accommodation, assistive software or adapted course materials. Everything is arranged individually based on your child's needs.

The academic experience

You may be wondering what studying at Abertay is actually like compared to school or college. Here are the things parents most commonly ask about.

Class sizes

Abertay is a smaller university, which means class sizes are often smaller than at the large institutions, which means your child will know their lecturers and their lecturers will know them. It's much harder to fall through the cracks here.

Attendance and contact hours

Your child will be expected to attend all timetabled sessions. Contact hours vary by course but typically include lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical sessions. Outside of timetabled hours, students are expected to study independently: reading, research, coursework and group projects.

We monitor attendance. If your child stops showing up, we'll notice and reach out. But ultimately, university requires self-discipline and time management. The transition from school, where attendance is closely monitored, to university, where your child manages their own time, is one of the biggest adjustments.

Assessment

Most courses use a mix of coursework and exams. Your child will receive regular feedback on their work throughout the year. If they're struggling academically, their course team are there to help.

What if they want to change course?

It happens, and it's not the end of the world. If your child realises their course is not right for them, they should speak to us as early as possible. Depending on timing and the programme, internal transfers may be possible.

Key dates for your diary

Come and see for yourself

Parents and carers are welcome at our Offer Holder Days. You'll be able to tour the campus, sit in on information sessions about funding and support, and talk to staff and current students. If you have questions, this is the best place to get them answered. If you can't make the event, you're also welcome to accompany your child on an individual campus visit.

EXPLORE CAMPUS EVENTS

If your child is leaving home for the first time

This section is for you as much as for them. It is normal to feel anxious about your child leaving home. Here are some things that may help.

Before they go

Help them practise the basics if they have not already: cooking a few simple meals, using a washing machine, managing a basic budget

• Talk about money: Make sure they understand what their  bursary and loan cover, and what they'll need to budget for themselves.

• Agree how often you will be in touch: Every family is different. Some text daily, some call weekly. There's no right answer, but it helps to have a rough expectation.

• Reassure them (and yourself): Feeling nervous is completely normal. Everyone does. It passes quickly once they're here.

After they start

• Give them space to settle in: The first few weeks involve a lot of new people and new experiences. Let them come to you when they're ready.

• Don't panic if they're homesick in the first week or two: This is extremely common and almost always resolves once they find their routine and their people.

• If you're genuinely concerned about their wellbeing: Encourage them to speak to student services. You can also contact us directly at sez@abertay.ac.uk and we'll try to help.

• Remember Dundee is well connected by train: Edinburgh is just over an hour away, Glasgow an hour and a half. A weekend visit home (or a visit from you) is easy to arrange.

Staying informed

Once your child is a student, our primary relationship is with them, not with you. For data protection reasons, we cannot share their academic results, attendance, or personal information with you unless they give explicit consent.

That said, we understand that parents want to stay informed. Here's how:

• Ask your child to add you as an emergency contact during enrolment.

• Encourage them to keep you updated on their progress and any concerns.

• If you're seriously worried about your child's safety or wellbeing, contact our Support Enquiry Zone (SEZ) directly and we'll do what we can within our data protection obligations.

• Follow Abertay on social media to stay up to date with university news and events.

Common questions from parents and carers