With A-levels results day just around the corner, many parents will be preparing to help their student children with the cost of university. But how much exactly will they chip in? Research shows that 26 per cent of parents who currently contribute, or plan to, expect to spend an eye-watering £50,000 per child.This includes helping with the cost of undergraduate or postgraduate tuition fees, rent and living expenses, across a degree course of three years or more. Some will pay out an even greater amount. The study by wealth manager Rathbones found that 11 per cent of parents who contribute expected it to cost them more than £100,000 per child.Meanwhile a further 16 per cent believe they'll spend between £50,000 and £100,000, while more than a third (34 per cent) anticipate dishing out between £25,000 and £50,000.Tuition fees will be £9,790 per year in 2026-27 for most. For living expenses, students can receive an annual maintenance loan of up to £10,830 if they live away from home, rising to £14,135 in London. However, this is means-tested based on their parents' income and some students only receive the minimum of £4,915. Helping hand: More than a quarter of parents say they plan to assist with university costs One in ten parents surveyed by Rathbones said they expected to borrow money to help fund their child through university, while a similar proportion expected to rely on financial support from wider family members. Around 8 per cent anticipated selling assets to help fund their child's education.Despite the financial commitment involved, most parents remain supportive of higher education.Almost half (45 per cent) said they would actively encourage their child to go to university, while a further 20 per cent would encourage university but with strong concerns about the financial implications.By contrast, just 2 per cent would actively discourage their child from pursuing a degree.Ed Wood, financial planning director at Rathbones, said: 'Education remains one of the biggest investments many parents will ever make, but the cost of providing that support is rising sharply.'What's striking is that some families expect to borrow, sell assets or rely on wider family support to help fund university, highlighting the financial pressures many households face.'A standard full-time bachelors' degree in England, Wales and Northern Ireland typically lasts three years, or four years in Scotland. Most students spend their first year in halls of residence, followed by two years renting in a shared house.