A parents’ guide to the university fair
You are probably paying for it, and you will probably ask the questions that matter most. Here is how to use the day well.
Come with your child, not instead of them
The strongest conversations we see involve both. Students ask about the course; parents ask about cost, safety, accommodation and what happens if things go wrong. Universities answer both sets of questions better in one meeting than in two.
The Dubai exhibition runs on a Saturday and Sunday specifically so that working parents can attend. For the online editions, you can simply join the same video call.
The five questions worth insisting on
- What is the total annual cost, including tuition, accommodation, living expenses and health cover?
- Which specific scholarship could my child apply for, what is it worth, and when does it close?
- What accreditation does the institution hold, and which body awards it?
- What support exists if my child struggles academically or personally in the first year?
- What can graduates do afterwards, in terms of both work rights and actual employment outcomes?
Judging what you are told
A good answer is specific. "We have a range of scholarship opportunities" is not an answer. "You would be eligible for the international merit award, which is worth thirty per cent of tuition, is automatic at these grades, and renews if you maintain a 2:1" is an answer. Ask until you get the second kind.
Let your child lead the subject conversation
Parents who take over the whole meeting tend to get institutional answers rather than departmental ones. Your child asking about the course directly usually produces more useful detail, and it is good practice for the interviews that may follow.
- Entry for parents
- Free
- Dubai
- Sat–Sun 25–26 Sep, 10 AM–7 PM
- Online
- Join the same video call
- Bring
- Grades, budget, questions
Register your child free
One registration covers every edition. You can attend together in person or online.
What parents can prepare before a university fair
Before the day
- Agree a realistic annual budget at home, including living costs, and decide what would change it
- Know your child's predicted grades, curriculum and English-test status
- Shortlist five to eight universities together and book appointments before the event opens
- List the destinations you are open to, and any you are not, with reasons
- Read our guide to comparing universities
Questions on cost and funding
- Total annual cost including tuition, accommodation, living expenses and health cover
- Which named scholarship your child could be considered for, its value, conditions and renewal
- Whether tuition can be paid in instalments, and what deposit is required
- Scholarships depend on each university's criteria; ask for specifics, never assume an award
Questions on safety, accommodation and support
- Whether first-year accommodation is guaranteed and what it costs
- What welfare, academic and mental-health support exists and how a parent can raise a concern
- How large the existing community of students from your country is
- What happens if grades fall short in the first year
Questions on admissions and afterwards
- Entry requirements against your child's curriculum, and intake dates and deadlines
- Which documents the application needs and when
- What graduates from the course go on to do
- Work rights during and after study, checked afterwards on the destination's official immigration site
For parents: your questions
Is there anything for parents specifically?
Yes. Entry is free for parents, the Dubai exhibition runs across a weekend so working parents can attend, and you are welcome to join your child's one-to-one appointments online or in person.
What should I ask that my child might not?
Total annual cost including living expenses, payment schedules, accommodation options and safety, health cover, and what support exists if your child struggles in the first year.
How do I judge whether a university is legitimate?
Ask which body accredits it and check that body independently. Every institution exhibiting has been verified as a recognised degree-awarding body or accredited provider in its home country.
Should we use an education agent as well?
That is your decision. What this event gives you is the chance to speak to the university directly first, so that any later advice can be judged against what the institution itself said.
How much should we budget?
It varies enormously by country. Ask each university for tuition and an honest estimate of living costs, then multiply by the length of the degree. That total is the only figure that compares fairly.
What about scholarships?
Ask by name: which specific award, what it covers, whether it is automatic or competitive, whether it renews each year, and when it closes. General assurances that funding exists are not useful.
Can my child work while studying?
In many countries yes, within limits set by the visa. Ask each institution what the current rules are, as they change and vary considerably.
What if my child is not sure what to study?
Attending is more useful than waiting. Talking to several universities across different subjects in one day narrows a decision faster than months of browsing.
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