How parents and carers can support students

Starting university is an exciting milestone for students—and often a nerve-wracking one for parents and carers! We understand that you may have concerns or questions about your student’s experience, especially if they are registered with the Disability Service.

While we welcome contact from parents and carers, it’s important to know that our ability to share information is limited by the Data Protection Act 2018 and the fact that students aged 18 and over are considered legal adults. This means:

• If the student has provided written consent, we can discuss their support arrangements with you. However, we cannot share information about academic progress or results.
• If there is no consent, we will still listen to your concerns and follow up directly with the student.

Encouraging Student Independence

University life brings a shift in responsibility. Students are now in charge of their own decisions, including managing their studies, finances, and communication with university staff. Unlike school, we cannot share personal or academic information with parents or carers without the student’s explicit consent. This includes details such as:

• Contact information
• Academic performance
• Degree results

If your student has signed a consent form, this allows us to:

• Listen to your concerns
• Answer specific questions (within limits)
• Contact you in certain situations

However, this does not mean you can act on the student’s behalf. They must still engage with us directly. In rare cases - such as serious illness - exceptions may be made, but these are uncommon.

Supporting Your Student

If your student is facing personal or academic challenges, please encourage them to reach out to:

• Their personal tutor
• Their student advisor
• The Disability Service or other relevant support teams such as Student Wellbeing.

The university has procedures in place to support students in a wide range of situations, and our staff are here to help.

Getting Support in Place Early

We strongly encourage students with disabilities to contact our service as early as possible. If they disclosed a disability during their application, they will have received an email from us before the academic year begins. This early contact allows us to:

• Arrange meetings
• Put support in place before the semester starts

Please remind your student to check their emails and respond promptly. If you have any questions, you can email the Disability Service, or phone us on 0131 451 3386.

Your Role in the Support Process

We welcome parents and carers to attend the initial support meeting if the student wishes. However, it’s also important for students to begin advocating for themselves. This may be the first time you’ve stepped back from attending meetings on their behalf, and it can be difficult to let go. But this is a valuable step in helping them take ownership of their needs.

Our advisors are experienced and will ensure that students feel heard and supported. If needed, we’re happy to schedule a follow-up appointment to make sure everything is covered.