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

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@MrKlaw As Bath were a bit slower than other unis to announce lectures moving online, I’m not too surprised they haven’t said anything yet about rent for after Easter. We need to go down & empty ds’ room at some stage over the next couple of weeks, either way.

Better get prepped for a possible extra trip down. Only lots and pans and then check his room for any spare bits and bobs he missed.

Which universities are these please?DD was told to leave by Durham and as she’s catered I can’t see how they can charge next term. They closed everything down.

Her rent is £2500 ish a term!

Ours is fairly cheap as self catered. If Durham told you to leave accommodation you should contact them and tel then you are not paying for next session and get them to confirm to you. Other unis are being more hedgey - I assume they don’t want to lose money if they can help it even when they’re closing off campus facilities to students

We don't have a car so not sure how we would get up to UEA to empty out DS's bedroom if there's a lockdown AND they say DS would get a refund if he moves out by a given date. I'm pretty sure collecting kit from uni won't be regarded as a valid reason to travel in the event of a total lockdown.

But different at Durham as this was their end of term anyway. They were told to clear their room and take all belongings or bag them up and label them for storage but some had already left as they’d previously said they could stay. I asked about next term but was told a decision hasn’t been made. Can’t see DD going back if everything online and nothing else open apart from the canteen which had separated all the tables so groups can’t sit together.

The last email said they were considering 3rd term charges. Direct Debit doesn’t go out until May so time yet.

Live from a House If Commons. An MP has just asked why some universities remain open. Matt Hancock was surprised as he said they have been told to close. Which unis are still open then?

*of

Lincoln.

Sort of.

He did look cross. Maybe their mummies and daddies are key workers and they are demanding care.

Ha ha yes, I did laugh when he said they’re all old enough to look after themselves!

Ok, so there is s confirmed case of cv19 at Durham University.

Not sure how the lockdown affects our plans to bring ds’ belongings home. And sounds like dd won’t be coming back for a while...

Does this mean I cannot go and fetch DD and belongings home now?

Unless it’s travel to work or to buy food/medicine you can’t leave home.

@Decorhate where is your DD?

Can I ask why some students decided to stay put?

I think most people must have been aware that a lockdown was going to happen.

@Benjispruce She’s in Leeds. Student medic so slightly different situation. Up to now the plan was to stay put & do some volunteering

Ah what a shame. She stayed for noble reasons too. Is she still able to volunteer?
I have to say I expected more warning of the lockdown.

@Ginfordinner

Some students have been self-isolating. And some overseas students could not afford flights home, or else they were having to make a difficult choice between staying put or getting home before the borders closed and then not being able to return to the UK.

Sorry @GCAcademic, I knew about self isolating, and unable to get home students, but on the uni Facebook page there are a number of parents who are frustrated with their student offspring's obstinacy about going home.

They are adults after all and I guess they’re at just as much risk at uni as they are at home. Not easy coming home to household rules when you love your independence.