Going to university (2019/20 academic year) - wave goodbye to family, say hello to fellow students and key uni staff and they're settling in (hopefully)

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread. Possibly a little precipitous but for some of our DC their university start date is only just over a fortnight away. Yikes!

@ifonly4 Can't see what you're supposed to do about tuition - I expect they give you dates to get you to make sure student finance is updated. But I bet lots are paid late and they'll chase SF so wouldn't worry too much about it.

Accommodation definitely the possibility of a gap to fill depending when you get paid and how much. If you're on minimum maintenance and topping up accommodation though, you should be able to cover a deposit, as long as they don't want the full amount too quickly!

The tuition just gets paid by the student loan company, so don't worry about that. The maintenance payments don't get triggered until they register - it seems unfair that there are expensese beforehand, but what can they do? If they don't turn up for the course they won't get the loan - if they paid beforehand they would then have to try & get it back. It was the same in the time of grants, I remeber queuing up for my grant cheque each year. If your DC has a week in which to register when they get there (I think it varies), encourage them to do it ASAP so that they get their money quickly.

@Herocomplex, I guess you have an older DC at Collingwood? Are they all singles? (thinking bedding!) Do they need a desk lamp? And what do you mean about showers? In the shared bathrooms?

Tilly just about to ask the same. I looked around Collingwood last year on the summer open day. Rooms were ok, had single beds. There was a large desk and wardrobe. Can’t remember if lamp but DD has one on her desk at home. Only the en-suites obviously have a shower. The shared bathroom looked ok , obviously not hotel standard but separate cubicles.

Hi! My DC is on a year abroad right now, but would be third year. Yes, they are single beds, with a massive lockable space underneath the bed. Certainly take a lamp, and an extension lead for more sockets.
My DC had a bath with no shower in their ‘flat’. Hopefully that’s been updated now as it was very inconvenient!

Thanks Hero for clarifying.

No problem! Moving in is efficiently done, you pull into the turning circle at your allotted time and are met by very cheerful helpers, who scoop up your fresher and their kit and show them their room while you go and park your car. Hope they love it there!

Thanks Hero we don’t have a slot yet, just a day.
Can anyone tell me when the maintenance loan gets paid? I haven’t heard a word since we were told how much DD would get.

Also until we know which room,en-suite or not, we don’t know the cost.

I think it will say when it is due on their notification (certainly does in subsequent years, but that might be different). Not until after they have registered for their course, as mentioned above.

It’s hard to leave it all up to DD who I wouldn’t really leave in charge of the dog

Wish they’d communicate with parents or at least copy us in!

Things are starting to take shape here. DD has been shopping with Grandma today and is now mostly kitted out. Some odd shopping choices made - rolling pin anyone?

Essential Trip !

DS bought himself an electric tin opener as he didn’t understand how a manual one worked. He could of just asked. Oh and two bottle openers, one for the kitchen and one for his keys when he is out and about. Luckily he texted me to see if a waffle pan would be a good idea.

Benjispruce DD has been very independent (wanting to be and making it clear she can manage), we had nothing to do with PS, UCAS application, checking her SF details, but I've insisted on looking at the costs side of things this week. She arrives at uni 7 Sept, her first maintenance payment is 16 Sept - she gets more paid for the last instalment in May which doesn't make sense as she'll be home two weeks later.

It's more in the summer as it's supposed to cover the summer holidays as well. In the final year they get less (overall, but specifically the summer term).

Ok but do I have to do anything to get the loan? We had the confirmation of what she’s entitled to but then what? Do UCAS lease with SF?

Liaise

Benjispruce I think it's whenever the first day of term is (so usually after freshers week). If she logs into her SFE account she will be able to see when the payments are.

Trip we decided that rolling pin would be good for pizza bases and that my suggestion of using a wine bottle wasn't going to work very well.

Asked DD to decide what to do about her student bank account today. Stay with hers or switch to get free railcard- I was told her Europe trip next week is priority right now.

Benjispruce Sorry, cross post. You have to tell SFE if you don't go to your firm choice - which changes the dates for the payments to match the term dates. Does your DD have an SFE account?

If you are not going to the Firm choice you need to update Student Finance as uni and/or start date may have changed.

Student finance account? I presume so?! She’s out at the moment.

She’s going to her 1st choice.