Starting university is a big step - Sarah Williams has suggestions for Christian parents wondering how to help their young people who are heading off this autumn
Sending your child off to university is one of life’s biggest milestones. It can stir up feelings of pride, excitement, and a fair amount of worry too. For Christian parents, there’s an added layer of concern: will my teen keep walking with Jesus when they step into an environment full of new freedoms, pressures, and influences?
The reality is that you can’t control their choices. But you can help prepare them - practically, emotionally, and spiritually - for this new chapter. Here are seven ways you can equip your teen to thrive with Jesus at the centre of their university experience.
1. Root them in faith before they go
University is often a time when faith shifts from being “inherited” to becoming truly personal. Talk with your teen about what it means to make their faith their own. Encourage them to keep up good rhythms of prayer and Bible reading, even if these look different from what they’ve known at home. Point them to helpful tools like Bible apps, worship playlists, podcasts, or journalling.
The next few years will be an incredible opportunity for your young person to experience new things, grow and deepen in their faith, and make memories that will last a lifetime
Pray with them regularly in the weeks before they leave - pray for friendships, courage, protection, and a great university experience! Let them see that faith isn’t just about rules, but about trusting God with everything.
You could also share honestly with them about your own journey as a young adult: the struggles you faced at their age, and how God met you in these. This will help them to feel more able to open up to you about any struggles they may face down the line.
2. Help them find a church community
One of the most valuable steps your teen can take is finding a church early on. The choices they make in those first few weeks often shape not just their university experience, but their faith beyond it. By prioritising church, your young person will be rooted in Christian community while they navigate student life. Belonging to a spiritual family provides encouragement, discipleship, and a place to grow in faith. Encourage them to explore a couple of churches, but not to drift endlessly - settling in quickly makes a real difference.
In my own first week at university, a lady I met at church invited me out for coffee. Her kindness made me feel at home in a new city and showed me how valuable it is to connect with Christian community from the start.
You can support your young person practically in finding a church by encouraging them to sign up for Fusion’s Student Linkup, or by helping them connect with the Christian Union (CU) at their university. Many CUs have Freshers’ groups on social media for students to connect before term starts. You could even spend some time together researching churches in their new city and making a shortlist of ones to visit.
3. Talk about boundaries and resilience
University life comes with lots of new freedoms and pressures - parties, alcohol, relationships, and choices about how to prioritise time. This can be exciting, but also a challenging environment to live for Jesus in. An honest conversation about boundaries will help them to prepare for this.
reassure them that making mistakes doesn’t disqualify them from God’s love
Ask questions like: What will you say yes to? What will you say no to? How will you decide what you are comfortable with? Thinking these things through in advance makes it much easier to make good decisions in the moment. For example, a friend of mine at university set himself a “three drink rule” - that he would never have more than three alcoholic drinks on a night out. Setting that boundary before facing peer pressure helped him to stay consistent.
These boundaries need to come from your teen themselves, rather than being rules imposed by you, but you can encourage them to reflect on these questions and create space for them to do this. It’s also important to reassure them that making mistakes doesn’t disqualify them from God’s love - what matters is how they respond, and where they turn when they struggle.
4. Equip them with practical life skills
Sometimes the most important spiritual preparation is actually very practical. A student who can cook a few simple meals, do their laundry, and manage their money will feel more confident and less stressed. Help them practise these skills before they go. Talk openly about budgeting and encourage them to see money as a way of honouring God - by being wise, avoiding debt, and giving generously.
Talk about balance too: university isn’t just about studying hard, it’s about stewarding their whole life well
Talk about balance too: university isn’t just about studying hard, it’s about stewarding their whole life well - getting enough sleep, eating healthily, exercising, and making time for rest. By having these conversations beforehand, you can help them be equipped to honour God in all areas of their life throughout their time as a student and beyond.
5. Guide them in friendships and relationships
Starting university is a golden opportunity to form friendships that can last a lifetime. Encourage your teen to be intentional: to seek out friends who will build them up, whilst also showing kindness to those with different worldviews. Uni also brings great opportunities for natural gospel conversations with people from very different backgrounds.
Be honest about relationships too. If your teen is thinking about dating, talk about what healthy boundaries look like. Share how accountability with a trusted friend or mentor could help them stay wise in their decisions.
Read more:
How the job description for Christian parents changes when their young adult goes off to university
6. Prepare them for doubts and questions
University often exposes students to new ideas and challenges to their faith. Let your teen know that doubt is normal, and can even deepen faith if handled well. Encourage them to bring their questions to God, to seek out trusted Christian friends, or to explore resources like books, podcasts, or CU talks that address apologetics and tough topics.
Reassure them that questions don’t scare God - and they don’t need to scare us either. Faith that is tested can become faith that is stronger.
7. Stay connected without holding on too tightly
As your teen steps into independence, your role as a parent shifts. They still need you, but in a different way. Stay connected through regular calls or messages, but let them take the lead on how often. This may mean holding back from texting every day - give them space to initiate this sometimes.
Be a safe person for them to talk to without fear of judgment or overreaction. Keep praying for them daily. Even when you can’t be there in person, God is with them, guiding and protecting them.
Trusting God with their next chapter
Letting go is never easy. Sending your child to university can feel like sending them into the unknown. But you’re not just releasing them to independence - you’re commissioning them into a new mission field, with God at their side.
The next few years will be an incredible opportunity for your young person to experience new things, grow and deepen in their faith, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Your role in this is to prepare, encourage, and pray. God’s role is to go with them, to guide them, and to keep shaping their lives. Be encouraged: this season is not only about starting university, but about preparing your young adult for a lifetime of walking with Jesus.6.
