Two-thirds of parents admit to tracking their child’s location while at university

• 83% of parents report extreme grief at drop-off and most (85%) expect their child to return home after graduating - the modern empty nest is more connected and emotional than ever, research by Unite Students reveals
• 67% of parents use an app to track their child's location but just 17% contact them daily, revealing a desire to stay connected while also giving them space to grow
• 85% of dads reported extreme grief as their child left for university, compared to 79% of mums
• A quarter (25%) of parents said they feel a part of them is missing, now their child is at university
• 85% of parents believe their child will move back home after graduating, highlighting how economic uncertainty and a tough jobs market are reshaping post-university life

New independent research by Unite Students, the UK's largest provider of student accommodation, reveals how parenting does not stop at the university gates, rather, it evolves.

According to the Empty Nester Survey 2025, commissioned by Unite Students and undertaken by Censuswide in September, two thirds (67%) of parents use an app to track their child's location once they leave for university - demonstrating how parenting in this hyper-connected age now continues beyond school life.

83% of parents say watching their child leave home caused them extreme grief, with dads more likely (85%) than mums (79%) to feel this way. Parents are also readying themselves for the boomerang effect; 85% expect their child to return home after graduating - highlighting the ongoing impact of post-pandemic realities and economic pressures.

To help parents navigate the transition to an empty nest, Unite Students has created a Guide to Empty Nesting in partnership with Dr Dominique Thompson, former GP and young people's mental health expert. Dr Dominique is also on the government Higher Education Mental Health Taskforce, and her expert tips in the guide offer practical advice for parents navigating and adjusting to what is a new chapter in their lives.

When asked to comment on the key findings of the survey, Dr Dominique Thompson said:"As parents, we have raised our children to be independent, to fly the nest and achieve their goals - they therefore deserve our trust and have earned the right to privacy and independence."

'Find My Friends' is the new baby monitor

Digital tools are reshaping how parents keep tabs on their children during their first year away from home. Nearly one in three parents (31%) contact their child every other day, with dads (33%) more likely to do so than mums (28%), and less than one fifth (17%) have daily contact.

Instead, many are turning to tracking apps to keep a watchful eye from afar, and it is dads (71%) keeping a closer eye on their children than mums (59%).

These numbers contrast sharply with how freshers feel about their independence. Unite Student's Applicant Index 2025 highlighted that 74% of incoming students felt confident about living independently, and 29% cited independence as a key motivation for going to university. It suggests that while students are eager to spread their wings, many parents are hovering close by , via tracking app.

Recent empty nester, Angharad, mum of two, said of tracking apps, "Personally I feel it's an invasion of their privacy, and could result in more worry and become a bit obsessive", while Steven, a dad of two said "my whole family is on Life360, so we can track each other wherever we are - she [Martha] is fine with it, she's not bothered - it means we know she's home after a night out and is safe."

For parents concerned about their child's safety, Unite Students provides 24/7 support, ensuring students can access help from a trusted team member whenever they need it. Students living with Unite Students are also given free access to wellbeing platforms Health Assured and Wisdom App. In addition, Unite Students' Resident Ambassador programme helps to connect students with peer support networks and wellbeing resources across its 151 properties.

Commenting on the high numbers of parents tracking their children at university Dr Dominique Thompson said: "Parents may find reassurance in just checking where their child is at any given moment, but we probably need to wean ourselves off the tracking app, and encourage them to do so too, if it has been a mutual habit till they left home. We need to be comfortable with not knowing where our adult children are at all times, reassuring as that may be, and sit with the discomfort that maybe they have forgotten to go to a seminar, or have chosen to go to a cafe with new friends, instead of to a lecture, but that is part of growing up and making one's own life choices."

A complex mix of emotions: the reality of letting go

Overall, the emotional response for empty nesters is mixed and complex - 14% of parents say they have cried uncontrollably since their child left, 25% said they feel a part of them is missing, and 24% had a realisation that life will never be the same. Close to a quarter (24%) feel guilty for not making more of the time they had with their child before leaving. Optimism does ring through, with 30% excited for their children to have new experiences, and 30% looking forward to seeing how they will grow away from home.

Speaking to the fact that 36% see this time as a new beginning, Angharad commented "it's an opportunity to find a new interest or take up an old hobby. Use the time positively to do things you enjoy."

Worries from parents about mental health remain front of mind, with 28% concerned that their child may struggle during their first year, which closely mirrors students' own self-reported concerns from this year's Applicant Index, whereby 35% said they struggle with anxiety.

Dr Dominique Thompson commented: It is completely understandable for parents to feel extreme grief when their child leaves home, as it is indeed a loss almost like a bereavement in some ways. The emptiness can be hard to adjust to initially, and it may take time to adapt and find a new sense of purpose and positivity, but there are many upsides to a parent's new found freedom. With less time spent being a taxi or laundry service they may be able to enjoy the opportunity to try a new activity, meet new people, or visit new places, giving them interesting things to tell their child about when they do catch up."

Mum and dad on standby: a not so empty nest

Parents are recognising their empty nests as more of a temporary arrangement, with 85% expecting their child to move home after university; a belief that is strongest among parents aged 40-49 (87%). Economic pressures and a tougher graduate jobs market are reshaping the journey into adult-hood post university, and regional differences demonstrate how widespread this trend has become - 91% of parents in Manchester, 93% in Norwich and 86% in London believe their child will return home.

Even though most parents anticipate their return, the reality of what that means has prompted a wave of mixed feelings. 34% say it is a good opportunity to save before leaving home again, and 36% say they would be excited to reconnect and spend more time with their child. There is however caution from some parents; 20% would be hesitant as boundaries would need to be set, 17% would be concerned of higher household bills, and 19% said they'd feel frustrated as they have enjoyed having more space.

Beth, mum of three who recently dropped her eldest off at university, said "I would be disappointed [if she returned home] as it would be a step back… Part of moving into adulthood and 'being successful' is having your own place and living independently from your parents."

As student life evolves alongside economic and societal pressures, Unite Students continues to support both students and parents with the infrastructure, resources and expertise needed to navigate these pivotal stages.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The Empty Nest Survey was first conducted in 2021 in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. This year's Empty Nest Survey (September 2025) polled 1,027 parents (aged 32+) of first-year university students across the UK to explore how parental attitudes, expectations and emotions have evolved. The survey was conducted by Censuswide.

About Unite Students

Unite Students is the UK's largest owner, manager, and developer of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA).

With 151 properties in 23 leading university towns and cities, Unite Students is home to 68,000 students, living predominantly in en-suite study bedrooms with rents covering bills, insurance, and 24-hour security.

Driven by a common purpose: to provide a 'Home for Success' to live, work and invest, Unite Students is committed to raising standards in the student accommodation sector with the support of over 60 university partners.

Founded in 1991 in Bristol, the Unite Group is an award-winning Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), listed on the London Stock Exchange.

For more information, visit Unite Group's corporate website https://www.unitegroup.com or the Unite Students' site https://www.unitestudents.com.