Parents/Caregivers.

Parents/
Caregivers.

The transition from high school to university can be challenging for many students. It can be just as challenging for parents and caregivers. While you expect your child to look to you for support, they’ll also look for guidance and often, specific advice on everything from degree choice to transport options.

Parents & Caregivers' Guide to University

A handbook to help you through.

“Trying to work out what potential study and ultimately career I might like to pursue after Year 12 has been quite overwhelming.”

Emma Pool
High School Student

Flinders City campus

Where potential meets possibility.

Learn more

Everything you need to know, face-to-face or on the phone

Flinders Student Advisors are a great place to start if you have questions about preparing for university, study options, entry pathways, career outcomes and anything else you may (or may not) have considered. Our Student Advisors are friendly and experienced. They can help you guide your child and provide additional information when those unexpected questions inevitably pop up.

Book a Chat

Speak 1-on-1 to our friendly Student Advisers.

Common questions

Transitioning to university is a big step, and your child is likely to have a lot of questions. Our Student Advisers are available to help, but here are some of the more common areas you might be asked about:

Preferences

Encourage your child to list their preferences (up to six) in order of the course they want to study, but there are a couple of things to consider:

Do they have the prerequisite subjects or assumed knowledge, if required?
Do they meet any other selection requirements?

You can find out more about the preference system on the SATAC site, or ask our advisers.

Pathways

Your child may be worried about what happens if they don’t get the ATAR they were hoping for. It’s important to reassure them that there are many pathways into a Flinders degree.

Find out more about admission pathways.

Student Support

While your child will be expected to take charge of their learning in university, at Flinders we support and empower our students from day one. Flinders has a range of support services from study support through to health and wellbeing support to ensure your child has a great learning experience.

Results and Offers

Waiting for results and offers can be stressful, but the process is not really that complicated.

Find out what happens before and after your child gets their results, and after offers come through here.

Fees

University fees vary depending on the course/topics your child enrols in, with many being Commonwealth Supported. For domestic students the government loan scheme, HECS-HELP, is available to assist eligible students in paying their student contribution fees. Find more details here.

Our study pages have further information about specific course fees, or you can find out more about fees here.

Transport

Getting to Flinders has never been easier. The Flinders Railway Line offers a smooth, 22-minute ride from the CBD to our main Bedford Park campus.

We also have other public transport options, multiple car parks and bike racks. Your child will find it super-easy to get to campus. Find out more about getting to Flinders.

Accommodation

If your child needs somewhere to live, Flinders is the only South Australian university with on-campus accommodation in the Adelaide metro area.

We’re also 20 minutes by bus or train from the city and some of Adelaide’s best metropolitan beaches. We also have a searchable database to search to search for off-campus accommodation.

Find accommodation.

Campus safety

At Flinders, we take the safety of our students seriously, and are committed to providing a safe and respectful learning environment free from racial discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying.

Safety on campus.

More advice and articles

Your child is about to start an exciting journey. At Flinders, we’ll help your child make the transition as smoothly as possible, but your advice and the support you give them is important. Keep reading for more information on starting university and life at Flinders.

Why Study at Flinders