What to consider if you are the first in your family to go to university

Choosing to study at a higher education institution is a life-changing decision. If you are the first in your family, it can feel overwhelming regardless of how much or how little support and advice is available. It is highly likely that you’re having to seek support and advice from new connections outside your family network, while also having to inform your family of the seriousness of your next steps. 

My message is not to worry. Because, as much as it can feel daunting, it’s also an incredibly exciting chapter to embrace and there are a lot of resources at your disposal. 

If you’re a first-generation student, it’s vital that you and your family feel confident finding the right fit for you beyond the courses and accommodation offered. I’d also like you to get the very best out of – and enjoy – the process from applying to graduating. Here are my three tips:

Seek advice before applying 

Don’t be afraid to reach out to a staff member or admissions team directly. Understand how and when lectures are delivered and who delivers them, what well-being support is available, how the campus operates and what facilities there are on site, if there are established links to your intended career and much more.

Find out what clubs there are to join, which will help you to find friends when you’re away from home. At UA92, we have mentoring and buddying schemes in place – find out if these are options for your choices. 

Make a shortlist of your preferred locations before attending open days to ask your questions. I’d recommend going with a trusted friend or family member. Members of your family might feel nervous, so these opportunities help to put their minds at ease.

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Being the first person in your family to go to university

Chat with students at open days who were also the first in their families to attend university. You might plan to stay close to your home or decide to head further afield: whatever your choice, involve your family in deciding how this would work practically and how often you might visit or stay in touch during term time. Remember virtual open-day experiences are often available too if you can’t make one in person. Plus, smaller institutions are often more than happy to take you on a private, more personalised, tour of campus. You just have to ask. 

Speak to friends and teachers/tutors where you’re studying currently. Talk about how they found the transition and what they recommend. Applying to university or higher education can feel stressful because of the link to obtaining grades, but my advice is to aim high with your choices while also having options through clearing. This will help you and your family to adjust. 

Seek out resources to help you navigate this stage of your life. There are some fantastic podcasts and blogs that can help you understand what university life is like. 

Consider finances and discuss them with your family 

Taking out a student loan is one the most popular ways to finance higher education. And although it can seem daunting, finding out all of the information about the cost of your chosen degree, coupled with the earning potential in your chosen field, is a great way to put your mind at ease and and reassure your family.

There could be other financial support available. Find out if you are eligible for a scholarship, grant or bursary, which is something that your chosen university will be able to guide you on. Financial support packages might also be available via your university for the practical day-to-day things that make student life affordable.

The way that your lectures are structured also influences your financing choices. For example, our lectures are taught in blocks, so students choose whether to attend morning or afternoon sessions; they have the opportunity to work part-time around studies if they choose. It’s worth finding out if your chosen course will give you the flexibility to work this into a week.

Think about your future after you graduate 

There’s no escaping the fact that everything is just costing more these days, so it’s important for universities to communicate what your return on investment would be. 

Ask your chosen universities about their alumni stories so you can understand the scale of opportunities when you graduate. Look at access to buddy and mentoring schemes.

Also, look out for the courses and universities that partner with businesses to give you real-world work experience as part of your studies because this will make you career-ready and help you to stand out from the crowd when you graduate.

Get involved as much as you can at university to shape your future. This could mean being involved in the student union, or maybe writing for a student blog or newspaper, giving you a chance to lobby on subjects affecting students at that time. Your extra experiences and contributions to student life will help students following in your footsteps and, more importantly, help you to stand out from the crowd.