Information for parent and carers

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), educational institutions must handle student data with great care. This includes ensuring that any communication involving personal data is conducted directly with students.

We are able to discuss our accommodation in general, our contract dates and rates and how to make an application. However, the contract is between the University and the student noted on the tenancy agreement therefore we are unable to provide specific information about a student, financial information, their allocated room or any complaints without the expressed permission from our student.

If you prepare your young person on what to expect when living in University accommodation it will set them up for success.

Unless allocated within a studio your young person will be sharing kitchen and for some residences bathroom facilities. Our university welcomes students from all over the world which means your young person may be allocated with a student with a very different cultural background to their own. 

This is a great opportunity to learn and share new experiences and build new friendships whilst being flexible to someone’s habits who are different to their own. Prepare your young person to communicate openly, be respectful of others personal space, clean up after themselves, share responsibilities such as cleaning, be considerate to others food and belongings, be friendly and inclusive.

The University operates quiet hours from 23:00 – 07:00 in our halls of residences. However, this is a student’s home for the duration of their contract and are free to live and move around the accommodation as they wish whilst considering others around them. 

Please note that our buildings hold around 200 students each so they will never be as quiet as private residences. For unreasonable noise during the quiet hours, we have procedures in place to address such incidents. You can report such incidents to our Safeguarding team.

Nervousness is a normal emotion when doing something new for the first time.  Prepare your young person that this is a normal emotion, and most will be feeling the same way. Talk about ways to help calm nervousness by establishing a routine, ensuring selfcare, staying positive and setting realistic expectations and knowing when to seek support. We have a fantastic Residences Life team on campus who’s job it is to look after the Wellbeing of our students on campus and a Wellbeing team offering a range of support.

It can be quite unpredictable in Scotland, so we suggest layers, waterproofs, hats and scarfs (for the winter months). For your accommodation, additional blankets, fluffy sock/ slippers can keep you feeling cosy.

Prepare your young person for Independent living. 

Budgeting - teach how to budget going through what income and expenditure they will encounter and if they will require a part time job to support their income.

Meal planning - practice simple, budget friendly meals that they will enjoy, how to shop smartly and batch cook.

Laundry - Is your young person aware of the steps to complete laundry, what washing symbols mean and to remember to check pockets for items that may damage the washing machine. Independ

Cleanliness - show what acceptable standards of cleanliness look like for their room, bathroom and kitchen and what cleaning products are required to complete these tasks. Also talk about how to speak with flatmates if their level of cleanliness do not match their own.

Heriot-Watt University is an adult environment and the majority of our staff and students are above the age of 18.  The University will treat everyone the same regardless of age and expect students to act in a responsible manner.  The University will not act as loco parentis (in place of a parent) for students under the age of 18.  Please read our policy for those students who will be under the age of 18.