The University of Salford: Undergraduate Parent Guide 2026

APPLYING TO UNIVERSITY

OUR GUIDE FOR PARENTS, CARERS AND SUPPORTERS 2027 ENTRY

BECOME UNSTOPPABLE

SUPPORTING THE APPLICANT JOURNEY

We recognise the impact that you as parents, carers and supporters have on your applicant’s higher education decision-making process. We know sending your student off to uni is a big stepexciting, but sometimes a bit overwhelming too. You play a huge role in helping them figure out what’s right for them.

GET IN TOUCH

Hopefully we’ve covered everything you need in this guide. But if you do have any questions, we’re happy to help - get in touch with our Applicant Services Team using the details below.

Email: enquiries@salford.ac.uk

Phone number: 0161 295 4545

You can also contact us on social mediaour channels are on the back of this guide.

This guide will take you through everything you need to know, from supporting your student with choosing a course and applying, to student finance, accommodation, and all the bits in between.

During the application process, we can’t provide any information to you as the parent, carer or supporter of an applicant, without their express permission. This is in keeping with the terms of the Data Protection Act 2018 and all universities operate in the same way. We know this can be quite a challenging transition, and if your applicant would like you to discuss their application with us, they will need to provide consent to us on enquiries@salford.ac.uk

SIGN UP TO GET REGULAR UPDATES

Throughout the year, you can attend online events just for parents, carers and supporters, to get updates and support on the application process. To make sure you’re in the loop, sign up for our Student Supporters’ newsletter at salford.ac.uk/parents

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

STEP 1

Encourage your applicant to think carefully about what they want to achieve from their degree. Although we may be *slightly* biased towards Salford, we want students to explore all their options (courses, location, experiences they can gain, etc.) and pick wherever is right for them. They need to feel like the place is the right fit so try and get them to go to as many Open Days as possible.

STEP 2

When they’ve made up their mind about which course they want to take, they’ll need to apply through UCAS for full-time courses or directly to us for part-time study. Applications open in early September 2026 and the deadline is 13 January 2027 to start in September. We can still accept applications after the January deadline, but we’re unable to guarantee that late applications will be considered.

Dates correct at time of publication (May 2026).

STEP 3

Check out UCAS’s guide to filling in a UCAS application. It covers what personal details should be included and all the required documentation such as qualification history, personal statement and references ucas.com/applying/applying-university/filling-your-ucasundergraduate-application

Sign up to our Student Supporters’ newsletter to get support on all areas of the UCAS application process (see back page).

STEP 4

Once we have received the application, this will be reviewed by our Admissions Team. Your student will then either receive a conditional offer, unconditional offer, an invitation to interview/audition, or an unsuccessful decision. You can find details on the types of offer and what they mean at ucas.com

STEP 5

If your student gets a conditional or unconditional offer, we’ll invite them to one of our Offer Holder Days. These will take place between February and April 2027. Offer Holder Days are a chance to visit the University and get a valuable insight into what it would be like to study here, as well as have another opportunity to explore our campus and facilities. There’s plenty for parents, carers and supporters to get involved with at an Offer Holder Day too!

STEP 6

If they’ve submitted an application by 13 January 2027, most applicants typically need to select their firm and insurance choices by mid May 2027.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT COURSE

This is the biggest decision for all our prospective students and their supporters. There are so many courses on offer that it might seem overwhelming even looking at where to begin. Not to worry though! Here are some top tips.

1) Take a look at subject guides (often available on university websites or UCAS) to get an idea of what types of subjects your applicant could study.

2) Make sure they consider their career goals and the qualifications that may be required as part of this.

3) Let them explore different job sites and graduate career options to look for ideas on what they might want to do once they finish their studies.

4) Encourage them to think about what they enjoy day-to-day as this could be included as part of a future job role.

It’s worth keeping in mind that there are a range of different undergraduate courses available. These include (but are not necessarily limited to): undergraduate degrees, integrated master’s, foundation years, foundation degrees, degree apprenticeships or a Higher Technical Qualification such as a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE).

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

Choosing where to live is one of the biggest parts of the uni experience. There are lots of options in and around Salford and Manchester to suit different needs, and we’re here to help you feel comfortable in your student’s decision.

LIVING IN OUR PARTNER ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation at Salford is managed by our partners, Campus Living Villages (CLV). Our accommodation is conveniently located close to our Peel Park and Frederick Road campuses. The accommodation has 24/7 staff on-site, year-round social events, a gym, a games room and laundry facilities. Rent includes all utility bills, contents insurance and use of on-site facilities and high speed wifi. Students can easily get to the MediaCity campus by bus from both Peel Park and Frederick Road campuses.

More details can be found on CLV’s website at campuslivingvillages.co.uk/salford

LIVING OFF-CAMPUS

Some of our students may choose to live off-campus and there is a wide range of accommodation available in the area, from purpose-built student halls to family homes or private apartments. We’ve put together some options on our website at salford.ac.uk/askus/topics/accommodation/ looking-for-accommodation

COMMUTING TO US

Thousands of students commute to the University every day. It’s easy and affordable to get here because of our excellent public transport links - whether that’s train, bus or tram. If your student wants to drive, there are discounted parking permits available, as well as secure bicycle storage. Find out more at salford.ac.uk/commuting-from-home

All undergraduate students at Salford receive £150 per year as part of our Inspire funding scheme

Once they’ve registered as a student, they’ll get access to an online store where they can spend their credit on things like electronics, books, gym memberships, bikes, home and kitchenware and more.

FUNDING AND STUDENT FINANCE

It’s normal to worry about funding an undergraduate degree. However, the finance side of things really isn’t as daunting as it first appears.

The primary route of funding that students use is from Student Finance England. This is a government body that allows eligible students to borrow money to help pay for their tuition fees and their living costs.

A few quick points to note:

/ Applications are made directly to Student Finance England and will open late March 2027. The deadline to apply to ensure funding is in place for September, will be towards the end of May 2027.

/ The tuition fee loan is paid directly to the university to cover the tuition. If students are eligible for the loan, the full cost of the tuition fee will be paid to the university for up to four years.

/ The maintenance loan is paid directly to the student in three instalments each year. This loan is means tested and the household income of the student will need to be inputted into the application.

/ You can take a look on gov.uk/student-finance/who-qualifies to see the eligibility criteria for the funding.

Our specialist advisers will be available at our Open Days and Offer Holder Days giving both finance presentations and running drop-in stands if you want to have a chat with them. They’re a friendly bunch and we’d recommend paying them a visit.

If you have specific questions about eligibility for student finance, it’s better to contact the relevant student finance organisation directly. We can provide generic advice on eligibility, but not necessarily specific advice based on your individual circumstances, or those of your applicant.

Student Finance England has a YouTube channel that explains their system and how things work: youtube.com/sfefilm

For eligible courses and modules starting from January 2027, the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) will transform the student finance system in England. It will create a single funding system which gives you more flexibility over how you study.

For more information, please see the government’s guide to the LLE: gov.uk/ student-finance-on-or-after-1-january-2027

Contact information for Student Finance funding bodies in the UK:

Student Finance England: gov.uk/contact-student-financeengland

Student Finance Northern Ireland: studentfinanceni.co.uk/contact/ general-enquiries

Student Finance Scotland: saas.gov.uk/contact.htm

Student Finance Wales: studentfinancewales.co.uk/contact

SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS

Choosing what to study is important, but so is everything else around it. The support and facilities available at Salford can have a big impact on how your student feels and succeeds at the University.

Our askUS team provides help and advice on a wide range of issues. This includes (but is not limited to) wellbeing and counselling, disability and learner support, LGBTQ+, money matters, care leavers and estranged students.

THE SPORTS CENTRE AND TEAM SALFORD

Our sports facilities include a fitness studio (with classes), multi-use sports hall, swimming pool, strength and conditioning rooms and sports pitches. In addition to this, Team Salford unites all our sports teams to make exercise accessible for everyone.

The Students’ Union (SU) is a charity which is independent of the University and is run for students, by students. They make sure that students’ voices are heard both at the University and on a national level. As well as providing advice and support, the SU runs regular events, as well as supporting loads of student-led society groups to suit every interest. Find out more at salfordsu.com/

THE CLIFFORD WHITWORTH LIBRARY

We’re really proud of our library at Salford. We’ve got the Wellness Room where students can wind down at the end of a busy day, and The Cube which is a space designed to support individual and group study.

The Faith Centre, on our Peel Park campus is open exclusively to students and staff. We offer unique spaces for group worship, private prayer, personal reflection, social activities, pastoral support and relaxation. Find out more at salford.ac.uk/askus/support/faith

The Library is open 24/7 and includes 24-hour laptop loans, phone charging stations and a tech help bar. We also have additional library and study spaces at both Frederick Road and MediaCity campuses.

SALFORD IN PICTURES

HELP AND ADVICE

Our Applicant Services Team is your first port of call for all advice and guidance through the application process. They can be contacted on enquiries@salford.ac.uk or 0161 295 4545.

For information on courses available at the University, search on salford.ac.uk/courses

If your applicant ever has any queries or concerns, we would encourage them to contact us as soon as possible to discuss this. We’re here to help and advise and, even though it might feel difficult or a silly question, it’s what we’re here for and the chances are we’ve seen it before.

We know that going to university can be a difficult transition period for students and their supporters and our support teams are here to ease that transition wherever we can.

USEFUL LINKS

Money matters: salford.ac.uk/askus/money

Wellbeing and counselling: salford.ac.uk/askus/wellbeing-and-counselling

Disability inclusion service: salford.ac.uk/askus/disability-inclusionservice

Careers advice and guidance: salford.ac.uk/careers

Advice for parents and supporters: salford.ac.uk/parents

University of Salford

The Crescent Salford

M5 4WT

T: +44 (0)161 295 5000 salford.ac.uk

Applicant Services Team

T: +44 (0)161 295 4545

E: enquiries@salford.ac.uk salford.ac.uk

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