University life for 'freshers' (2019/20) - first year campus life suspended, sitting out/surviving the pandemic and staying on top of studying [Edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

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Did you guys clap for the NHS tonight? We did - it was so heart warming and patriotic.

Yes - I could hear the town in the distance when we went outside! Lovely

We did clapping, heard pots and pans, whistling, cheering such a still night it echoed around the valley. I choked up a bit. Family are out there tonight working in hospitals.

Yes we did! Some people are cynical about it not actually helping but it felt right and was lovely to see people outside coming together (metaphorically) when we’ve been kept apart.

Yes we did! Loads on our street did

Yes could hear people on our street clapping - thanks guys .

@bigTillyMint and others-another Durham email. Tilly they’re on the website if your son isn’t checking. Click on the Covid19 link and at the bottom is s copy of every student email.
Today it says that maintenance loans will still be paid . Also says finalist’s congregation for graduation won’t happen in the summer as planned. Very disappointing for them.

Yes he forwarded the email after a bit of prodding. He was not that happy I had emailed about leaving stuff - well if he was more proactive.....

Yes DD upset that her graduation in July will probably be postponed if not cancelled

Hi @blametheparents. I just spoke to Broadgate to see if still open for when we need to collect last bits of stuff and hand keys back ... they are open ... but then I said I'd seen the Uni Website where it said they wouldn't be charged rent for next term ... she went a bit cagey!!!! ... said that that was Uni statement not UPP and that UPP sending out an email by end of today to students !!! .... have to wait and see

@Alicatz66 - Interesting. DS pointed out to me that if you follow the link that I posted a couple of days ago that UPP is no longer mentioned! I took a screenshot though so I know it was there.
I think they will end up not charging. I imagine they will be keeping everyone's deposit though - those flats must be a disgrace! Certainly DS's bathroom was.

@blametheparents .. yep .. I think we will definitely wave goodbye to the deposit ... DS shared kitchen is 🤮

Does anyone else have a contract with Fresh Student Living? They manage properties in several different cities. Their view on 3rd term (in Sheffield) is that if the students are getting their loan, they should be paying their rent - irrespective of occupancy. Presumably if a student is let off from paying their rent and is living at home, they should inform SFE and get the amount of loan lowered to that of a student studying while living at home? I think this was mentioned on the previous thread but am not sure what the conclusion was.

There's a statement on the Gov website now that third term maintenance loan is being paid as normal - confirming what I'd found from student finance when I asked them.

My lectures are now either online with last year's recorded sessions, or the odd virtual seminar which are hilarious to watch non-techie lecturers manage to cope with and hands appearing into shot handing out cuppas and biscuits etc. Thankfully we'd finished most of the syllabus and they've changed the bulk of our exams into low key (full reference list etc not required) assessments - we got the revised deadline list talked through yesterday.

I applied to defer the exam elements of my course - my mental health has suffered and I need to prioritise my kids - that's been granted for half the stuff I requested so far. My logic is that if I defer to the end of summer - at least by then the odds are the lockdown will be relaxed and DH can take the kids out to the park - rather than me trying to do it with a child running around with a cardboard box on her head like we have at present.

I think the fact that students are getting their money from SFE is neither here nor there. It's not fair to have one rule for one group of students and another for others. I've said before that if they're not intending on waiving the fees entirely 50% would be a good compromise. Let's face it the universities and other uni accommodation providers are making a shed load of money out of students. Well above the rents that they should be paying based on inflation.

For comparison, here in the US most universities appear to be refunding room and board costs and allowing students to keep whatever financial aid package they have.

For some lower-income students that means they'll actually have a credit on their account at the end of this year. For my DD it means this term will cost us half what last term cost us.

UON had an email last night confirming if rooms were vacated by 14th April they won’t be charged

Copy of email

Dd (first year imperial) is at boyfriends house for the duration. We went up to clear her room in halls on Monday, dropped her off at his house, and when the announcement was made, it was decided that she’s better to stay where she is. They’re likely to cope better together than apart, his family are happy to have her there (because he’s easier when she’s there) she has clothes and laptop there etc. Both families are not high risk and no one has symptoms, and at this stage of either of them develop any symptoms they’ll already have shared it with the other.

Similar here Hostess - we have my daughter's boyfriend staying with us. She's happier when he's around.

*simbobs if our DS is staying at home for the third term we would prefer him not to have the maintenance loan, we can afford to keep him here and he is getting a part time job. I need to find out how you cancel the third instalment.

DS is at NTU and there is an announcement on the website that they are not charging for the summer term accommodation if it is official uni halls (mine I think this will apply to your DS). Our DS is in private Halls and according to NTU some private Halls are still insisting on charging for the final term’s accommodation. The Uni says they are in conversation with these Halls ... very annoying.

If some unis are saying rooms must be fully vacated to not have to pay rent, how does that square with the lockdown? Don’t want to head off & get turned back half way! Dd & friend were pulled over by the police today checking why they were on the road (they were on their way to work - NHS jobs)

DD is keeping her loan- it’s hers not ours after all so it’s her decision. She’d normally work in the holidays to fund her social life but can’t get work so if that continues she’ll need it for September.

My d is planning to use her term 3 loan to go towards the deposit and start of rent for her year 2 house, which will mean finding a summer job isn’t quite so vital. As she was looking for either bar/waitressing work or sports coaching the chance of getting one of these jobs is reduced so it’s a load off her mind.

Yes that too @HostessTrolley, though we’ll probably pay one of the months as we won’t be paying the balance of 3rd term accommodation that her loan doesn’t cover.

My term 3 loan might well be going toward a laptop that doesn't weigh or handle like a fecking housebrick as I've killed my back carrying this one back and forward each day! If I'm not paying out hundreds on train fares and parking each day I may well get something slim and more portable.