So where does this leave UNI students?

[RainingBatsAndFrogs]

Can they go back if they have not already done so?

Nearly all DC's flatmates are back already.

Ds will be going back end of next week ( by train to Scottish Uni) ....he's final year living in private accommodation with 1 other , who's also on his course
Needs access to library and specific scientific data for dissertation which he can't access from home - plus there's more room in his flat for studying and better wifi
We live rurally with low rates and he's not been anywhere or seen anyone but us since he's been home for Christmas

dd went back to shared private house, not all her housemates are back yet which concerned me and the weather isnt conducive for outdoor walks tbh. but her sister is also at home and they share a room so it was very hard for her here. i am sad she went back so soon and worried for her but the door is always open for her to return

I'm amazed by all these students returning. DS1 isn't allowed to return and DS2 doesn't want to as there is no one else living in his flat and he can't stand the thought of another term of lockdown isolation. But reading this thread and posts from friends on FB it seems most students are happily returning. DS2 says most of the people he met last term are back this week. What is drawing them to return to isolation in Halls?

Tbh, part of me wishes DC would go back. I find it hard to focus on work when they are milling around, keeping vastly different hours to us, cooking endless fried food , running baths at 2 am. But I don't want them to be locked up alone in a room in halls in a closed city. I don't see the appeal.

I can fully understand wanting to return if you're the kind of person who needs a focused environment to compartmentalise and get on with your work... we're not allowed on campus yet as commuter students - and it's fucking killing me trying to write high quality assignments with no physical library access - both a headspace thing and just access to physical books to turn pages on and interact with to get ideas - my grades took a nosedive last year when campus closed and I was having to get work done at home in what we can actually muster as a working space for me (thankfully the nosedive was in the form of dropping from consistent firsts to 2:1 level at least)

@Dove0709 - I had no idea that any cinemas or theatres had been open at all in 2020 since March. They haven't been around here. It's been a ghost town. What area are you in?

[quote Labobo]@Dove0709 - I had no idea that any cinemas or theatres had been open at all in 2020 since March. They haven't been around here. It's been a ghost town. What area are you in?[/quote]
Live in Dorset, which was tier 2 until 30th Dec. Cinema in Bournemouth was open, Theatre in Wimborne for panto. Seating was subject to social distancing and you could only visit with your household. Pubs, restaurants, cafes all open as long as you were eating. His university is in a tier 3/4 city, where very little has been open.

My DS went back to his campus based halls on Monday. Could see lockdown coming and really wanted to go. He works better there, can keep student hours (doesn't work with 2 parents WFH and Y12 sister on line schooling), and has 5 other flatmates to get on with. He had covid last term, and hadn't been anywhere since Christmas. Spoke to him yesterday and sounded so much happier than he has done for weeks. Apparently there are lots of other students in halls too.

I don't really see any logic in allowing so many students back to uni but others not? What's the point in some having to stay at home with their families when others are mixing with their peers in halls? DS1 and DS2 have been told to stay at home till further notice and it's now looking like they'll miss this entire term, whilst many of their peers seem to be carrying on as normal with shared accommodation at other unis.

Nottingham are still allowing them to turn up to halls. My neice is at uni in Wales. Does anyone know what the specific (quotable!) law is for returning from England to Wales?

Many students don’t have a great environment for study at home. If both parents are wfh and possibly siblings not at school then the workspaces rapidly run out. WiFi is an issue too if they need to attend online classes.

@Cookerhood

Nottingham are still allowing them to turn up to halls. My neice is at uni in Wales. Does anyone know what the specific (quotable!) law is for returning from England to Wales?

There was a news feature calling for clarity on this today: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55528218 - so it sounds as if your niece will hopefully get some news soon.

@Chemenger

Many students don’t have a great environment for study at home. If both parents are wfh and possibly siblings not at school then the workspaces rapidly run out. WiFi is an issue too if they need to attend online classes.

I would bloody kill to be able to be isolated in a room in halls right now. I've got noise cancellation running on my headphones to try to focus but so far I've written a line of this essay cos I'm having to do this, home learning for the kids, housework and everything else.

I dream of a corner in the library and a coffee and silence.

Between us we have 3 at university (bloody expensive!) 2 have gone back and the remaining one called the halls who said there's no issues with returning, they are open, and no refund if she stays away! As per normal the situation has been handled badly and far too late

Ps due to work and caring commitments I travelled thousands of miles during lockdowns 1&2 and never was even asked where I was going, not stopped once. I have never travelled without a good reason but as long as it's transportation back to university because they don't feel they can work at home you have a reason, moving house is expressly permitted - what students cannot then do is pop back for the weekend next month, we've said they need to assume they stay out until Easter to ours hence one dd being reluctant to go back (she has sn)

Yes, the new English regulations in force today (which make changes to the main Dec regulations) allow people to move home etc. They do not have anything specific to university students in them other than saying you can leave home for education purposes (eg a medical student could travel to a lab or lecture or hospital).

For those worried about travel we have all travelled including by tube and train for work etc throughout lawfully and without being stopped. My son drives every day for work and has almost every day since March without being stopped by the police (although who is going to stop a food delivery van?).

The regulations -the law - are in some ways different from the Government advice which is not legally binding.

@labobo it’s different for 2nd year + students in private accommodation - firstly because they are not subject to any prohibitions of the University and secondly because they can decide as a group of housemates to form a household that’s at no risk from anyone else as thry would be in Halls.

@labobo and the thing “drawing them back” is the wish to be with friends and have a semblance of the student experience rather than be at home with parents and feeling infantilised a bit

[quote VanCleefArpels]@labobo and the thing “drawing them back” is the wish to be with friends and have a semblance of the student experience rather than be at home with parents and feeling infantilised a bit[/quote]
No need to be demeaning to students that decide to following the law/Government guidance during a pandemic.

Mine wanted to get back to be with their flat mates and enjoy something of a student life They chose to study away from home and that is where they want to be
Seemed to love the time they spent at home getting run after with food and drink on tap !
But wanted back to their'real' life which I fully support
But both are so happy at Uni

by not returning 'to university' I assume their focus is on campus access. They add exclusions for lab access needs like science/pharma courses etc.

So I'm not personally reading that as referencing accommodation specifically - although halls are university controlled so there may be a case there.

They also say to not move back and forth. Suggesting that a single move would be acceptable as long as you aren't doing it all the time.

My DS wants to go back this weekend to be with his friends in private rental accommodation and I'm supporting him with that - I'd rather drive him than have him take the train

@Dove0709 what a touchy response - I’m describing why those who are going back are going back, not making any comment -derogatory or otherwise- about any student making a different choice. And for all the reasons previously explained in this and similar threads return to Uni is not in fact against the law and comes within guidance

@VanCleefArpels Oh I see, those going back are doing so because their parents treat them like children! My bad.

At least one Welsh uni is continuing with (some) in person teaching (for all subjects) and so are asking students to return. They say that the English law permits this, for English students, and I'd imagine they've checked!

Should have tagged @Cookerhood in the above.

Dgd was hoping to go back on the 15th. But now has to stay put till at least end of January as everything online till then at least. She has paid for accomodation till end of January and will pay again because she has half her stuff still in her room because I broke my knee in November and could not pick her up so she could only manage one huge suitcase and hiking backpack on train on her own. She did get a small refund as she had to come home earlier before Xmas and she has been informed she will get one for this semester too.