Applying for Uni 2019 Part 5: UCAS, offers and exam season looming

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

New thread started. Here's the previous one

We had trouble last year as DS was only 17 and you have to be 18 for almost all student bank accounts, he had to open a children's acc then convert it later, I think he missed out on freebies ( he may have just not told me). He went for Nationwide too, good thing as Santander are about to close the only branch in his town.

Well, we do have an UC but DS is 17 until late July. Typical...

The age thing seems odd and must be different in Scotland where many start uni at 17.

Mine aren’t teenagers infuriating? I asked my DS if he’d heard anything from NTU after firming his offer.... ‘yeah, I think so’ was his reply !!!! I think I’m more excited about it than he is !

You can't get an overdraft in England until you are 18 (possibly not in Scotland either? The first thing that came up when I googled 'minimum age for overdraft' just now was from the Bank of Scotland.

I had no idea! DD isn't eighteen until August.

Ragwort yes they are. I have been impressed with comms from NTU. But I have to drag out any info from my DS, its painful. I know I get in his nerves asking for updates all the time but it's the only way to find out anything. Bless him

So DS won’t be able to open an account anyway as he’s not 18 till August. Thank God for this thread.

Marchinfrogs, we are in Scotland, makes no difference, in fact trying to sort out the bank was the biggest hassle of all, it's a bit hazy already but I think the TSB was the only bank that did student accounts for under 18s but our appointment coincided with their computer systems going into a prolonged spasm and the computer also said no to DS's proof of address ( do you know any 17 year olds with utility bills?), Handily he hadn't got round to getting a driving license and I had forgotten to get his passport renewed so it all went pear shaped. With no branches of anything within 10 miles of us it took ages to sort!

Dd1 did all the paperwork for her Barclays student account and then when she knew for definite where she was going popped in to show confirmation. I think she kept the same account number but account was upgraded to student .Not sure where dd2 is planning to bank.

wigglybreezer - I'm so glad I've read your last couple of posts. DD's birthday is end of August and having chosen Scottish unis both start 9 September. We have a TSB within walking distance and I know there's one in St Andrews, so I reckon that'll have to be her first choice for pratical reasons. St Andrews website does say something about setting up a bank account during freshers week, but I guess that's for international students.

Please double check all my info ifonly4 a year ago is a long time ago with my memory these days!

Am I missing something? Do they ever need to go into an actual branch? Surely they can do it all online so having a branch near them is irrelevant?

I think you need documents etc. I had to make an appt in branch for my DS to open up his current account at Nationwide a couple of years ago.

DS has a Nationwide account too, only opened a year or so ago. I recall he did most of the application online but still had to go in to verify himself (with his passport). It was all done very quickly though.

During Freshers, two DC`s were leaned upon by a load of money folk, banks, building societies. They opened loads of accounts for the freebies, does that not happen any more.

This article about student bank accounts (2019) might be of interest.

Thank you for the link NewModel

Thanks: that is indeed useful.

I still don't get finance , though. What does that money get paid into ? What do you put as a Bank Account on the application??

Piggy Does your DS already have a bank account? He can use the exisiting account number on his student finance application form and his account can be ‘changed’ to a student account once he is 18 or has his place confirmed at uni - that’s what Nationwide told us yesterday.

I was thinking more in the abstract , I guess, about those who might not have an account at all yet. Or wondering what happens if you give details of a , say, Nationwide a/c and then decide to change Banks to get the best student account?

You don’t need a specific “student” account for anything. Just a bank account. The student accounts are good for free overdrafts and a variety of freebies but not compulsory. If you want the money paid into a different account you just tell student finance

Big tick for Bath so that's now firmed. Fingers crossed.

All the offer holders had a 1 to 1 with the lecturers, dd went in alone but said that the girl next to her was on her phone while the parents asked all the questions!

" the girl next to her was on her phone while the parents asked all the questions!"

That won't create a good impression Fazackerley

I suppose they've already got offers so it wouldn't matter, but we were really quite surprised!!

That's good news fazackerley ! Now you get to have the accommodation fun!

Your DD is so lucky : Bath is a lovely place.