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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Heading towards 4th year or post grad/jobs

995 replies

Xenia · 02/07/2020 21:26

Continuation of the previous thread for those of us with children who are just finishing their 3rd year at university (so either "graduating" in 2020 or going into year 4 in Autumn 2020)..........

My twins' degree results will be out in late July. Good luck to everyone else waiting for finals results.

OP posts:
Horsemad · 27/09/2020 08:12

Thanks Eve.

I know a lot of people who have DC going this year and they feel the same as you. It's understandable. Flowers

Parker231 · 27/09/2020 09:20

Reading the news coverage of the threat to keep students at Uni over Christmas. No Covid cases at DS’s Uni but have told him that at any point he wants to come home, he has his car with him and he should just drive home.

Haffdonga · 27/09/2020 14:25

@Parker231

Reading the news coverage of the threat to keep students at Uni over Christmas. No Covid cases at DS’s Uni but have told him that at any point he wants to come home, he has his car with him and he should just drive home.
I just can't believe that unis, police, the government or even the army would actually be able to enforce students staying at uni for Christmas. There would just be such overwhelming mass civil disobedience that I don't think the govt would dare to try. They would be so undermined.

What could be more likely is that most students choose to come home early to avoid a 2 week quarantine over Christmas in case of positives in their bubbles.

With ds1 coming home from Australia for Christmas for the first time in 4 years and 2 very elderly grandparents, I desperately want to have ds2 home for what may be our last Christmas as a bubble of 6. I've just been made redundant so have far too much time on my hands planning this Christmas. If ds2 gets locked in I'll be storming the barricades myself Wink

ErrolTheDragon · 27/09/2020 15:29

I hope that what happens is that everyone is encouraged to think carefully about not spreading Covid at Xmas, especially to older relatives. That doesn't have to mean not seeing them.
Rumblings about keeping students at uni should at least cause halls and colleges to plan for staying fully open over that period for those who can't safely go home.

Parker231 · 27/09/2020 15:37

I’m not aware of any legislation which can be used to prevent students from leaving their Uni. DS knows that if he wants to come home he can (he doesn’t at the moment- having too much fun with his friends) and we will support him. He’ll definitely be having Christmas with us at home

simbobs · 27/09/2020 15:46

I am expecting both DC home but DS fully intends to see his friends, currently at other unis. We'll have to see how infection rates are looking or he may have to sleep in the garage!

Horsemad · 27/09/2020 17:44

At this rate, I'll have both DC home, as DS1 is moving home to enable him to save a larger deposit and buy a house. He'll be here in a fortnight - need to make some space... 😮

SMaCM · 27/09/2020 22:38

Good luck to everyone with DCs abroad, at uni, poorly, at home and just deciding what to do next. DD is happy at the moment and that's all I care about for now.

Original poster
Xenia · 27/09/2020 22:55

I think today the state announced students would be allowed home for Christmas so I suspect it will all be okay. Nice to see 3 of my son's friends today who changed here - it felt like normal times (they had a rule of 6 dinner in London ending at 10pm). I think the 3 are spending the night and my other son had a school friend here in the day who I have not met before - very nice boy or man I should say. He has a shop job I think where his mother works and will do a masters in a year.

I also spoke to my older son who seemed very happy although may need to replace his car which will be expensive but he has been known about that for a while that his is on the way out - old banger and new one will be too I expect.

The removal of daughter's 20 boxes from my garage went smoothly - that leaves 36 of daughter 1.... but I won't chase that.

OP posts:
Horsemad · 29/09/2020 13:36

DS appealed and they have reconsidered and said YES!! GrinGrinGrin
In reality, I know this probably means someone dropped out - I'm under no illusions. However, he always argues quite persuasively; we always said he should do law! Wink

Happy Horsemad! 🐎🐎🐎🐎

Haffdonga · 29/09/2020 15:48

Brilliant news Horsemad! Grin I doubt it was a question of course space (as so much will be online anyway) but your ds obviously impressed them that he was committed and making the choice for the right reasons. Well done that foal!

I think you said he has accommodation already sorted or will he have to find somewhere quickly?

Horsemad · 29/09/2020 16:05

Haha @Haffdonga, LOL at foal! 😆

He hasn't got accommodation reserved but has the offer of a flat from a family friend, should he need it.

latedecember1963 · 29/09/2020 17:10

Thank you so much, Horsemad, for checking on me. My eye is much less sore, but I'm still using the artificial teardrops and keeping screentime to a minimal. I do miss Mumsnetting though! I'm just trying to be sensible. I'm glad your lad has got on his masters course after all the uncertainty.
Congratulations to all DCs who have managed to start/ continue with their courses. I know what you mean SMaCM about being happy your DD completed her degree. She's shown real tenacity which sadly can't be graded in a degree classification.
Sorry to hear about your job, Haffdonga, I hope you get something sorted soon.
We took DS2 back to Birmingham a couple of weeks ago and he seems fine. He's sent photos of his house and we met his housemates outside to say hello.
I'm glad he's not in Halls. The BBC showed a film by a Manchester Metropolitan Uni student yesterday. While the conditions didn't look bad, having people cooped up together who barely know each other can't be much fun.

Carriemac · 29/09/2020 20:21

Great news Horesmad well done your DS

bigTillyMint · 30/09/2020 08:32

Congratulations to your DS @Horsemad

Sorry to hear you’re still suffering @latedecember1963

Those with DC starting on a Masters, how many hours contact do they seem to have? And how many hours slots in the library?
DD appears to have 6hours of “contact” and can only try to book up to 10hours in the library Shock

Original poster
Xenia · 30/09/2020 08:59

Glad the horsemad son got on his masters. Well done.
My son is now in Bristol with masters people (and some on year 4 of a 4 year degree). His law conversion course has about 40 hours a week of work - I am not kidding - if you do it all with all kinds of pre reading before the lectures/workshops, home work and the first mocks in October 2020 for the first sent of final exams in December. His twin is home doing the same course and working most of the day. I hope the Bristol one who is currently with most friends who have not had anything to do yet is not distracted. He has always done well in exams but this is not a last minute course you can just pick up before the exams. Anyway we shall see. The resit of just one module costs £4k so I am not too keen he does any resits at all!

OP posts:
Horsemad · 30/09/2020 09:54

OMG at resit costs!!! 😲

Original poster
Xenia · 30/09/2020 10:27

Yes he didn't believe me so I looked it up. Actually now they have the programme handbook we know each module is more like 15 not more credits so it is less but still could get up to £4k if he has to resit a few in July. I suppose if he just failed eg tort in December - 15 credits it is just £1170-£1450. I am hoping neither of them fail anything however...

One of their modules are 60 credits which we did not know when I last checked. They all seem to be 15. He did actually negotiate with me as to up to what amount I would pay for resits and I said no more than £5k.

"Additional fees
In addition to your programme fees, there may be additional charges associated with your studies, which include:

Resit fees for assessments: £75
Resit fees to repeat a 15-credit module: £1450 (London, Online), £1170 (Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge), £1160 (Manchester, Leeds)

Resit fees to repeat a 60-credit module: £5330 (London, Online), £4830 (Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge), £4830 (Manchester, Leeds)"

OP posts:
Horsemad · 30/09/2020 10:30

Wow, very expensive. Hopefully it won't be necessary for either of them to resit.

Parker231 · 30/09/2020 13:53

@bigTillyMint - DC is doing his Masters but still little information as to contact time. So far his time seems to be spent catching up with friends and drinking!

bigTillyMint · 30/09/2020 18:25

@Parker231, same with DD Grin

Haffdonga · 30/09/2020 20:01

DS went back to his uni house yesterday (same drinking and socialising plan in mind because his course doesn't start for weeks). Within an hour of arriving his housemate got notification on the app that she had been in contact with Covid and has to isolate. In the next hour he found out that 2 more friends from different social groups have got Covid. Not the return to student life he'd planned.

Horsemad · 30/09/2020 20:23

Oh no, your poor DS Haffdonga. 😲 It is bloomin' miserable, the whole thing, isn't it?

Original poster
Xenia · 30/09/2020 21:13

That's awful, Haffdonga. My son in Bristol is renting a flat with one other which probably reduces the risks a bit and they are being very careful so hopefully will be okay. The one at home is just working here or staying with his girl friend so pretty safe and only seeing the same 2 school friends (who just came round for a meal here and are ing pretty careful families - one is now in his first full time accountancy job and says he is doing 12 h our days when you add in the course and exams plus work (unlike lawyers accountants do their exams etc whilst working but the upside for accountants is they are getting paid). He seemed quite happy about it and I think it is just about all online.

OP posts:
Parker231 · 02/10/2020 17:19

DS has rang - he’s driving home on Sunday to collect more gym gear. His thoughts are that he might has well go to the gym and got a run whilst he waits for classes to start properly. I think he is enjoying winding up DD with the amount of free time he has whilst she is finding her feet in her first job.