Uni students Galway

[pinkhousesarebest]

Just wondering if there is anyone who could help us decide what to do with our son, who is enrolled in Galway but has never left his bedroom, poor lad. We live in France. We would love him to get away, but don't want to send him to an empty campus. And if he doesn't go now, we will just cancel his room definitively ( we have been holding off doing that).

     Is anyone on the ground, as it were. So hard for us to get a real picture of what is going on.

Not in Galway but Irish universities are pretty much deserted unless you're on a course that needs clinical or lab access etc. Everything is online. I believe there are still some students living in residences but not many.

I have heard that the situation for September is still up in the air and could be anything from the status quo to pretty much back to normal. It might be worth your DS asking the people running his particular course?

Or if you mean the rest of this academic year, then I don't think there are any plans to go back to normal. Most lectures will be over soon anyway and then it's exam season, so there are only a few weeks left.

Thank you so much. Yes it was for this academic year.. don’tknow How he is going to find somewhere to live as he doesn’t know anyone and hasn’t got into halls.
I guess loads are in the same boat.

The Halls situation is crazy but may change in August when results are out. Have you put him on the waitlist? They had 4 people apply per bed! My son didn’t get anything either but we won’t know if he’s going there until he gets his LC results in August.

Dd is in NuiG, and has stayed in Galway for most of the academic year. Lots of the students are coming and going. She’s been in Cuirt this year, which is not owned by NuiG but is quite popular with 2nd year students onwards. The accommodation actually owned by the university is generally used by the first year students, rather than older years.

I have two daughters in NUIG....one in 1st year, the other in 3rd year. They live at home ( we live 20mins away) but they occasionally go to library to study. They say the college is pretty dead, with even the coffee shops closed. They are both mainly studying from their bedrooms like most other students. Actually I just was talking to my dd in 1st year, and she is feeling v anxious and upset that she doesn't know anybody in her class. They have group zoom talks but it's not the same. I'm quiet concerned about her as she is usually so upbeat and positive but her mental health is definitely a concern now. I was happy to hear that the minister for 3rd level has said that his priority is to get students back on campus next September, with an emphasis on helping this years first year.....( 2nd yrs in September) to have Induction as if they were first years. I think this will be vital as I think they are all struggling.