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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Starting uni in less than 3 weeks time - still no accommodation!

77 replies

GrumpyOldBag · 31/08/2017 14:59

DS is off to Birmingham in a coupe of weeks - he's still waiting to hear about his accommodation as it was his insurance choice. He just called them and they said it will not be allocated until next Tuesday, and it's not guaranteed for insurance students.

He's pretty relaxed about it - but I'm not! Can anyone put my mind at rest please...

OP posts:
jeanne16 · 31/08/2017 19:31

I'm afraid there is a problem at lots of unis for students who get Insurance offers. Since the cap came off student numbers, there is simply not enough accommodation for all the students. Apparently Bristol wrote to all Insurance candidates before the results came out saying there would no accommodation for any of them.

LineysRun · 31/08/2017 19:55

Thanks Hollybolly, friends and family trying to sort her out with good old fashioned lodgings at least pro tem

DS and I have had quite a rollercoaster with Reading University ourselves. We think we may have a private halls room - but the cost, yikes.

Jessesbitch · 31/08/2017 21:23

Most of Selly Oak is student housing. There are a few private halls knocking about. Anything near selly oak train station to Bournebrook is solid student area. There's still plenty of houses to let atm so it wont be a problem if he is not able to go into halls.

bevelino · 31/08/2017 21:23

I think uni's could make things easier for students by letting them know at the outset about the difficulties they may face if they choose said uni as an insurance/adjustment or clearing choice. Dds best friend had a horrible time over accommodation at Bristol uni last year and in the end was told 2 weeks before the start of term that she was not being offered any uni accommodation; but by then it was too late to look for somewhere, so she had to take a gap year.

Dds friend has accommodation at Bristol this year but knows friends who went through adjustment and have been told that it is unlikely they will get uni halls.

Original poster
GrumpyOldBag · 01/09/2017 09:02

That is shocking about Bristol (which is the Uni which stiffed me over accommodation 35 years ago ...).

It's very frustrating as DS deliberately chose a campus-based Uni for first & 2nd choice as it's an environment he'll be most comfortable in socially. And now wondering what's the point if he won't be able to live on campus in his first year.

OP posts:
Hollybollybingbong · 04/09/2017 17:54

How are you doing Grumpy? I barely slept last night, at least we'll know tomorrow. Wine

Hollybollybingbong · 04/09/2017 17:56

Thank you Donkeys for the link, it shows there are a few properties still available.

Original poster
GrumpyOldBag · 04/09/2017 18:25

Holly - I also couldn't sleep last night!

Tomorrow we have a 3.5 hour car journey to make (still on holiday) so I hope DS's phone/internet is up to it!

Fingers crossed for both our boys. I am also on the Wine

OP posts:
LineysRun · 04/09/2017 18:49

Good luck Wine

DS got a massively expensive private halls offer. We've had to take it. So a bit of a tainted result, really. And that was after a lot of stressful shenanigans from the university accommodation people.

Hollybollybingbong · 04/09/2017 19:11

Liney, it's good to hear your DS is sorted albeit at a high cost. I've always thought it one of the factors that put people off applying to university when they have a tight budget, the costs can double between accommodations and you have little or no say in the matter. It must be heartbreaking for people who have to turn down a place because of accommodation costs alone.
I feel a bit silly having thought that results day would be the end of the worrying!

LineysRun · 04/09/2017 19:16

You're absolutely bang on there, Hollybolly.

Original poster
GrumpyOldBag · 04/09/2017 19:28

The thing that gets me is your DS/DD has to fill in a lengthy application form, putting their order of preference, ensuite or not, saying when they like to go to bed, etc etc... and it turns out they are lucky to get anything at all.

Liney, glad your DS has got something sorted. At this stage I'd be very happy with just about anything. We steered DS to the cheaper halls (no ensuite!) but right now if they offered a room at the Ritz we'd probably take it.

OP posts:
LineysRun · 04/09/2017 19:33

That's where we were at, Grumpy. And you have to watch like a hawk for how many weeks the tenancy is for.

FreedaDonkey · 04/09/2017 20:13

Do you have Facebook? There's a great group for uni mums with loads of stuff like this on.

DS went into private halls and some others DCs into private housing last year.

m.facebook.com/groups/488235648182391

(What I wish I knew about university)

FreedaDonkey · 04/09/2017 20:20

@liney is it Unite?

LineysRun · 04/09/2017 20:27

Yes, Freeda. There are a couple of decent individuals who work for them, but the whole thing has been like going into a mincing machine which squeezes money out of you and leaves you mangled.

I might offer them and the University some 'feedback' once DC has actually moved in. Right now, I don't want to rock the boat.

FreedaDonkey · 04/09/2017 20:32

I'm on my phone and don't know how to PM you (you won't 'know' me under this name) but Unite were fantastic last year. Not in same city but I couldn't recommend them highly enough.

There a couple of others on the FB who are either in Unite as first years this year or used them last year.

LineysRun · 04/09/2017 20:41

Freeda, that's good to hear. There does seem to have been an issue which traces back to Reading University accommodation office, not necessarily Unite. Anyway, it's done now. But £££.

I think for those waiting, it's just bloody awful.

DS says Reading allegedly putting students into hotels. I think that's on FB. I heard they had to do this in 2015 as an emergency measure.

Iusedtobecarmen · 04/09/2017 21:21

OP
My ds had An unconditional uni place and applied for accommodation May. Still not had an offer and I'm getting stressed. I have rang and emailed and they said in process of sorting.
It's about three wks away!!know his start date but don't know what date they can go in accommodation! I need to plan around work,younger dc school Etc.
I don't know how it works as I went to uni as a mature student and lived at home!!
It's confusing

Iusedtobecarmen · 04/09/2017 21:21

And D'S is oblivious and leaving it all to me

LineysRun · 04/09/2017 21:57

iusedtobecarmen, did the unconditional offer / place come with a guarantee of accommodation? Do you still have that info?

Original poster
GrumpyOldBag · 05/09/2017 06:43

Carmen, some Uni's (like Birmingham) guarantee accommodation for students who put them as their firm choice. So if he had an unconditional offer maybe you don't need to worry. It should be clearly stated on the website.
The problems some of us are having are because our DC are going to their insurance choice.
Fingers crossed for you too - we are planning to take DS the first day of Fresher's week (but may go the weekend before if allowed, depending on the accommodation situation).
But i agree, it makes planning almost impossible.

OP posts:
TinklyLittleLaugh · 05/09/2017 15:10

My DD is going to Trinity College Dublin. (We are UK based). Only about half of kids get offered halls, the rest have to sort something out themselves. She had to write a personal statement to explain why she is worthy enough to be offered halls, what she would bring to the community Hmm. And then the accommodation website made a mistake with the number of words required and DD didn't see the correction, so her statement was very short.

I have been so stressed about the whole process. DD is totally and utterly unfazed and far more concerned with various leaving party shenannegins.

Original poster
GrumpyOldBag · 05/09/2017 16:29

Holly - any news? DS got a text message this afternoon, he's been offered a place at Oakley Court. Feeling very relieved. Budget is higher than we wanted and we were only given 24 hours to accept & pay the deposit, but it's all done now and can sleep well again!

Hope there's also some good news for your DS - and everyone else waiting to hear.

OP posts:
Hollybollybingbong · 05/09/2017 17:04

Best of luck Tinkly, I thought DS wasn't concerned but he has just heard that he has accommodation and is very excited and relieved. DS said he was just waiting to hear today, he felt sure they'd have something for him, naivety or optimism who knows!
Congratulations Grumpy what a relief, DS got Mason, what a white knuckle ride! 😁