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Higher education

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Original poster

Leeds uni help the frustrated parent of a new student pls

29 replies

Helenluvsrob · 28/08/2017 17:58

Very frustrated with the lack of info re Leeds moving in etc

Dd place confirmed , yay etc , on results day . Want to do a special mini break before she leaves.

No info from them...... left it a week and then looked at term dates - start 25/9. " international welcome week" 11-17 th. Assume that means freshers 18-24 max.

Book hol 13-17.

Finally fri got accom confirmed etc. Deposit payed and contract starts 13th. Dd now mardy that this means she'll " miss out and you can't just turn up for freshers " ...

Anyone know when they are " expected" to move into hall?

It's not like she's our 1st but I'm sure we had definite info from Nottingham pretty quickly. I mean they want them there in about 14 days if it's 13/9 and they haven't told us yet? Surely not many parents can realistically get a day off mid week to move their darlings in with less than 2 weeks notice ?

Frustrations not helped by the fact they've sent us a load of moving in messages for a " lily khan " ( name changed) . I don't think that's dds info under the wrong name as it gives an appointment time that is then changed - presumably lily cancelled at rebooked !

OP posts:
Lucysky2017 · 28/08/2017 19:08

It seems a bit late. My Bristol 2 were given dates and one has a pre start 2 days away field course he booked on to today. So he will miss the day his hall opens but people do come at different times. I don't think it matters that much. Also some freshers' weeks are too long and a waste of time so even if she misses some it won't matter. In fact she can probably register on line. I know my two have been told the day they move into halls ( different halls on different days so I am going to make 2 trips down there one with each twin) but we had to look it up.

Usually it's weekends for moving in - is in our case.

We did look at last year's Bristol dates by the way earlier in the year just to get an idea as one of mine is going abroad in early Sept.

hoyhoy44 · 28/08/2017 19:49

has your dd been on any fb groups or the student room, somebody who has been allocated the same halls maybe able to help
some places do seem to have a weekend of move ins though and more than one option of dates to move in

Horsemad · 28/08/2017 20:09

Leeds was quite poor last year re allocating accommodation, there were quite a few people on here complaining about them.

tribpot · 28/08/2017 20:18

Based on the appalling traffic in Leeds, I can confirm that moving in seems to happen at a weekend (there are in fact road signs put up to warn the rest of us not to go anywhere). I would assume that the International Students Week was, as the name suggests, only meant for international students who may have restrictions on their travel dates / extra admin to do with immigration (convincing Theresa May personally that they really will go home?). Freshers' Week is when everyone else would turn up - that's how it worked when I went to Leeds some years ago.

I'd probably just give them a ring (or contact the hall) - if nothing else, if they get the same inquiry time after time it might prompt them to think 'perhaps we could provide better information to our new students?' (I'm still waiting for this to occur to ds' high school, I might say).

Becca19962014 · 29/08/2017 09:37

I recommend giving them a ring. Some unis (ive a feeling Leeds is one) expect students to be there on date allocated and if they aren't they can and will reallocate rooms accordingly to those who do turn up. Some places stagger when freshers turn up due to traffic congestion now - I know where I taught there were always massive complaints from both student families and locals because of traffic and now they stagger arrivals over a couple of days.

I know mine expect all students to be there the week before classes start to ensure everyone is ready to start their course, some courses have classes the week before term starts, not only first years but second and third as well.

Freshers at mine when I was a student a long time ago was two days and then registration/freshers fayre etc then classes began. Now there's ten days of freshers events but there are some classes as well, which shouldn't be missed.

daisymai08 · 29/08/2017 09:42

What hall has she been allocated?

chemenger · 29/08/2017 09:50

On their website it says that Intro Week is 18th - 22nd September. It seems that you can move in before that but they can't make you!
accommodation.leeds.ac.uk/info/1/prospective_students/83/key_dates

tribpot · 29/08/2017 12:19

It does say Please check your contract for the specific start date and in this case the contract says the 13th, so maybe that is a required checkin date, if the arrivals are staggered so to reduce the traffic carnage? I'm sure the uni can clarify over the phone, though.

dingit · 29/08/2017 12:29

Not any help, but we have the same issue with Surrey.

Original poster
Helenluvsrob · 29/08/2017 12:42

Thanks all. I think we will let them know she will be arriving on 18th, so they don't reallocate her room ( they'd better not, we've paid the deposit!)

OP posts:
Becca19962014 · 29/08/2017 14:36

Contact them via email to say, don't do it over the telephone. They are notorious for reallocating rooms if students don't turn up and they're known for allocating more rooms than they have.

Obviously she'll be charged the extra days she won't be there, and everyone else will have moved in. In mine its now done by hall according to their (my ex-uni) website and anyone not turning up within 48 hours without good reason (e.g. ill with dr letter) has their room reallocated. The deposit doesn't get returned.

So definitely email and check with accommodation services how it works there, so you, DD and they know.

Those days are likely to be the hall social events.

Becca19962014 · 29/08/2017 14:36

(Just to say they may have improved since last year but I wouldn't count on it)

BubblesBuddy · 29/08/2017 15:22

Halls being available and freshers week starting are often two different dates. Just email the hall and state her arrival will be 18th Sept.

When DD went to Bristol, it was an October start! Just a few years ago - how times change.

Decorhate · 29/08/2017 16:34

My dd is at Leeds. She is going back on the 10th September & she says that is one week before Freshers Week which would mean Freshers Week starts on Monday 18th. Hth

Decorhate · 29/08/2017 16:39

But your dd really needs to try to get there on the 17th if possible. There is likely to be things going on at her halls to help everyone get to know each other. And my dd had inductions sessions at 9 am on the Monday of Freshers!

hellsbells99 · 29/08/2017 17:01

My DD has just finished her 1st year at Leeds. Most freshers will move in on Saturday 16th or possibly Sunday 17th. DD has a few different course sessions during freshers week but I am not sure if she had any on the Monday.
This year, she has already moved into her accommodation but is still at home at the moment. Then going up for the weekend of the 9th but visiting a friend at another uni for a couple of days the following week (to join in their freshers) and planning on being back in Leeds the 14th or 15th ready for re-freshers week.
If you have any questions, please feel free to message me.

PiratePanda · 29/08/2017 19:50

Our freshers week begins on Mon 18, and I'd be really surprised if any university in England started before that (though some will start the week after).

But if in doubt, email the department administrator; or check out published term dates on the Leeds website. It might be called Induction Week, or Welcome Week, or some other permutation.

wheresthel1ght · 29/08/2017 20:19

I am a Leeds graduate (15 years ago mind) and they were pretty poor for communication. They are one of the few uni's left with their own controlled accommodation which in theory should make it better.

The problem will be the accommodation office e won't have been given the confirmation of term dates til last week (worked for them was the bane of our lives)

Noseysoso · 29/08/2017 20:27

She can move in any time after the 13th - of possible, can you or someone go there and put some stuff in her cupboards etc? That way she's not left with shit spaces (or none as were my friend's case!). Also, if possible it would be nice for her to go there for one day to meet her flatmates so she's not left out.
There should be a Facebook group (or student forum) where she can meet her flatmates !

user1464114113 · 30/08/2017 09:43

Hi my daughter going to Leeds and still not heard which accommodation she has! Which did you get

allinahuddle · 31/08/2017 01:02

DS1 is starting at Leeds and I had the same issue with communication. It seems the information is there but it's not particularly easy to find! Last night I made him go back through all his emails and we found that, once you get your accommodation contract, you log into the accommodation portal and book your own check in date. There are slots of one hour from 8 or 9 am through to about 6pm. I can't remember the exact dates but I know they ranged from something like the 13th (may have been a lot earlier) through to well into the week after. It told you how many available slots were left for each hour on each day. So, for example, 2-3pm on the Saturday was booked up at his accommodation but 1-2pm had 10 slots left. If you book it then change your mind, you log into the accommodation portal again and change it (depending on availability I suppose). If your daughter hasn't got the email telling her to book an accommodation slot, she may be able to do it directly through the portal anyway without ringing them.

user1464114113 · 31/08/2017 10:16

Hi
She has not yet been advised which accommodation they are offering her!! Not looking good
Which did yours get

allinahuddle · 01/09/2017 00:03

Leodis which was what he wanted to he's been lucky. I thought once we knew where he was living it would be easier but there has been more conflicting advice on the Leeds website about what to bring. One part says don't bring a kettle for Leodis, another says you have to! It's really annoying that you can't even rely on the info you find. I hope your dd finds out soon. It's so stressful not knowing.

hellsbells99 · 01/09/2017 00:34

I know last year that Leeds students only had 4 days to accept accommodation once it had been offered, so over the next few days hopefully more will become available.

user1464114113 · 01/09/2017 08:11

Hi I thought we would have heard earlier re accommodation as it was her firm choice and she sent accommodation preference in March long before the June deadline.
Hoping she hears today!