University life for our soon to be Year 2 undergrads (2019 intake): social bubbles (bursting?), the new normal and hopefully no second wave

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread

It would seem that they are relatively small universities (circa 10K students) given that it mentioned 13 (but not which) and said it would potentially impact on 130,000. I imagine that if you cross-reference size with previous intel about those in a precarious financial situation, you'd pretty much be able to guess which ones.

Universities income/expenditure data may help you join the dots too

If anyone has any concrete information via their sources I would really like to know. Even well established unis are seeing cuts to courses as staff are leaving. My DD is in despair at finding no modules of interest or relevance to choose from next year.

According to this income and expenditure summary 2018/2019 the universities most in deficit are:

King's College London
University College London
The University of Edinburgh
The University of Oxford
The University of Birmingham
The University of Cambridge
The Open University
Cardiff University
The University of Sheffield

None of which are low ranking universities

But Oxford and Cambridge are massively wealthy

I know. This just doesn't make sense.

Surely with Oxford and Cambridge that doesn't factor in their vast land assets? I am pretty sure I recall that after the Church of England and the Royal Family they are the largest landowners in the UK.

Maybe they have undeclared assets?
I know that they are the two richest universities in England, and they receive huge donations from alumni.

That is an interesting table because it's not the same as one I looked at a few months ago. The latter I recall because UEA (DS's uni) was massively in the black (probably in the top 10), as were Oxford and Cambridge, although some 'top drawer' ones (Durham I recall) much less so.

This table is a link from another MN thread

If you know a little bit about accounts, one of the important things to consider is the income and expenditure in the year reported on. Balance sheets can be misleading because they include the value of assets, which include the buildings. In reality, for many educational settings (not just unis) owning a “valuable” building is not going to keep you afloat if your income is consistently below your outgoings. Only cash reserves will do that.

Which universities may need to be bailed out

According to today's news a record number of students have applied to go to university this year, so places actually may be more difficult to come by than in recent years?

Do you think the students who had planned a gap year have decided to go to university instead?

Or more people who might have gone into paid employment are opting for university (given that job opportunities for 18/19 year olds have probably vanished in recent months) instead?

DN was undecided about taking up her university place, although she had kept it open for this year. Lockdown pretty much seems to have made her decide to do a degree and her plans for her gap year came to nought (she was supposed to be spending spring/summer in Italy learning the language and staying with family friends).

Glad I found you again thought no-one was posting.

DS and girlfriend pushed for a flat for just the two of them, we were not keen because we said the whole idea was to experience as much as you can at uni. not lock yourselves away for another two years. Also being blunt what if one of you calls it a day or finds someone else you will be alone with few friends. He went quiet for a day or two then agreed. Aigh. why did he have to find his first girlfriend the week he arrived at uni.

Eventually managed to track down a letter that says DS needs to at his first months rent by 15 July (uni starts in mid October...)

Still now news on the girls that pulled out, DS hasn't contacted his other housemates, saying it's their lookout, letter says they won't release keys unless all have paid.

I smell trouble.

He does have a mate starting at his uni in October but I think he plans to go into halls.

@Piggywaspushed good luck sorting that out, it is a very grown up thing to have to organise an expensive accommodation contact and current times make it harder. Have you manner to see a copy of the contract? Can they pull out? You said "girls" - is it more than 1 now? Good luck.

No, that was typo! One girl...

As far as I am aware this is her responsibility to sort out , but it's an absolute PITA.

...... her responsibility, but everybody's problem!

I shall remember this line!

oh gawd DS may have had e mails from 2nd year accommodation re deposits will have to chase up now.

13/4 April was last e mail DS passed on to me, are the unis chasing up yet or not do you think?

I would have thought that deposits and the first quarter's rent would have been due by now. DD'a contract started on 1st July, so I have paid the first 13 weeks rent already.

I see that some students have already sorted their modules out for next year, so I asked DD who said the current situation means that nothing has been sorted yet.

And, proud mum alert, she has scored a high first at the end of her first year. I just hope she hasn't peaked too early.

Well done to her Gin! Ds says he won’t get his results till the end of the month... have already started paying the rent on the 2nd year house.