University life for freshers (2019/20) - we're hopping towards Easter with a pandemic to avoid **Title edited by MNHQ**

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

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"DD also said the maintenance loan for 3rd term will go back to government if they stay closed completely after Easter."

Gosh, I hadn't thought of that. Doesn't sound as though many students will be getting temporary jobs in restaurants/bars, so who then supports them until September - obviously some dparents can, but not all can? Though surely if the lectures are online, exams being sat etc, the university is still functioning so students should at least be entitled to the 'studying at home' version of the maint loan?

I wonder if government has had time to turn its attention to the many implications of universities' decisions?

Some good news newmodel - that is what we need!

@simbobs surely they can't have it both ways - withhold maintenance loan but expect students to pay for accommodation? That can't be right?

No I don’t I’m afraid as DD was in tears so not totally decipherable. She said it had been raised and that was the answer. Will find out more when she’s calmer.

I thought the same about a lower amount of loan if living at home and then no accommodation fee to pay.

That would make sense if they were in accommodation owned by the university, but many providers these days are separate businesses. I have yet to reread the contract. Would this come under Force Majeure? Going to break it to DS that he may be skint till September...

Leeds Beckett latest.

twitter.com/leedsbeckett/status/1239635458012913664

DS job at home down the pan, manager called staff in tonight to tell them they are closing.

Rapture my DS says he doesn't want to come home from NTU either and I am gutted. I just want my chicks home and safe but he is having a great time. Not sure he will feel the same once the reality of no outside entertainment sinks in.

DD will hate better home do long. She was already dreading the long summer holiday. Uni life is all she ever wanted. Gutted for her and so hope they reopen after Easter even online but will halls open.

Being home so long

I shall be cutting the monthly allowance we give to DS quite dramatically if he's going to end up living at home for the next six months.

It was Newcastle’s FAQ and it was “Will my tuition fees being refunded?” not accommodation fees. Same answer though-no.

Be! God my typos reflect my stress.

minesawine I've persuaded her to come home at the weekend. They've got (possibly) critical labs that need to be done (lecturer is trying to arrange if he's allowed) this week, but I've told her to get any subject info she needs together and that's that. I can tell she's stressing about catching something (she struggles with anxiety and has asthma) and shes much less likely to get anything at home.

We'll isolate her once home just in case (not hard).

On a slight plus note I pointed out to Dh that we wont need sky sports for a bit and he actually agreed

Things felt a little more normal at work today and the half hour drive home this evening changed that.

Thanks everyone for all your valuable input, in particular NewModel. I have told DS not to expect the third maintenance loan payment.

DD is ready to come home. She needs a break. It has been a hard slog for her with exams every week and she just needs some TLC and down time. She will miss her friends dreadfully, and like Benjispruce's DD she wasn't looking forward to the long summer holidays without her friends.

She has been using up some of her and her flatmates' ingredients to make a cake.

Well I can’t see how they can stop any of the maintenance loan. It’s a LOAN - the students are borrowing the money. Some will not even have families to go back to live with, do I really can’t see how that could happen.

Possibly catered students who have been advised to go home might be able to not pay that element of their accommodation fees at least. I have told DH to cancel the DD for the 3rd term and wait and see.

I told DS that he may not get his 3rd payment and he doesn't believe such a thing is possible.

I have a family to support that my maintenance loan goes toward while studying - I shall be completely screwed if it's stopped.

Why would they stop the maintenance loan? They will still have to pay for accommodation

One of DS's friends has been left behind by parents who have moved abroad and is really worried about the prospect of no funding as can't earn enough to stay in his accommodation.

I am glad none of you think that’s possible. Could be the only silver lining in this if accommodation doesn’t need to be paid.

@Itscoldouthere working on the theory that they won’t If term 3 cancelled or remote learning only.

I’m referring to first years in halls/college accommodation.

@Benjispruce I spoke to both my DC uni accommodation departments last week about accommodation for next term, as we have just moved abroad (although I’m here in UK at the moment) and was told by both that they have signed a contract for X number of weeks and that they would have to pay for the whole contract time.
I can’t imagine that they will change this, but who knows, I now feel like anything could happen!