Durham University

[KingscoteStaff]

A continuation thread for those with DC at Durham, or applying for Durham or alumni or staff! Share your thoughts and questions on colleges, courses, etc.

Assemble! @Baytreemum @WelshDaff @WinterRobin @janinlondon @MarchingFrogs @ChildOfFriday @tava63 @Terfterfterf @TonTonMacoute @Suki2 @Quair @Greyhair59 @bpisok @Jan069 @999caz @nipersvest @mum2eim @witchend @chopc @alterego2

Who have I missed??

Thank you @Peaseblossum22

@chopc same as a previous poster, we paid my dd’s accommodation fees directly and she had the minimum loan to spend. Tbh I don’t think she spent all that much, not being a drinker, and Covid. Although apparently a lot of her housemates did order in a lot of takeaways, especially when their dinner time was an early one. They had a set time for meals for their household, which changed every three weeks, but meant you might have rather unsociable mealtimes. Hopefully that will be better next term. 🤞🏻

@whoatethelastbiscuit my dd’s kitchenette didn’t even have a sink, let alone a drainer 😱😂. The shared bathroom and separated toilet didn’t have a sink either! Tbh I was pretty horrified when I first saw her accommodation. She had a sink in her room, but the hallway was very narrow, the locks were all stiff. All very basic 😬. Looking at the videos on YouTube, some of the newer colleges have much nicer accommodation. So maybe an upside to the Hill colleges?!

Thanks @SpringSparrow . We will be funding DS fully. I wonder if we should give him the student loan amount and see how he would manage ........

DS just finished year 1 at Hatfield. VERY basic kitchenette, with just a sink and kettle on their staircase landing. He had a kettle and basin in his room too - useful for late night noodles! During their varied periods of isolation the staircase/household all chipped in for a microwave.

No need for an airer at Hatfield as washing/drying in the laundry room is v. reasonable.

Money wise, he had his catered hall bill paid, plus £150 a month, plus we paid for sports kit, books and train tickets. He had earned about £1K over the summer after (non-existent) A levels, and he seems to have got through a fair amount of that during year 1. He didn’t work over the Christmas or Easter hols.

Thank you @KingscoteStaff very useful ballpark

@jano69 I misread your message and thought you meant by not having an airer, don't bother with laundry just buy clothes of Amazon - judging by what DS brought back that's pretty much what he did first term! although not from Amazon.

I bought DS a dinner suit before he went, he has used it, and had to get the girls to do his dickie bow however has now grown out of it due to heavy gym useage ... so I wouldn't spend too much on one unless you want to.

Now DD, still hoping to keep Hatfield, has used the pandemic sales to stock up on evening wear having checked out all the balls etc. on youtube

@SpringSparrow no sink?? so it really was a broom cupboard then - older DD had same at Nottingham.

Oh and yes for a dinner jacket - DS took his grandfather’s old and somewhat moth-eaten one.

I think my reference to dinner suit was in response to something @chopc enquired about on the 'Another Path' thread, been lurking on there for ages DD was redirected from Oxford.

Got it @whoatethelastbiscuit I think I tagged you incorrectly in an acknowledgment post

@whoatethelastbiscuit- Dd is looking for a couple of evening dresses .. any tips for online sites to look at?

@whoatethelastbiscuit haha just re-read my clothes airer post and you're right, it does look like I'm suggesting buying new clothes rather than washing them. I bet there are some students who are tempted to do exactly that!

Oops posted on wrong thread

Hopefully I have reported for it to get deleted

Daft question having just read the link about college re-allocation. It references a need to accept the place within 7 days - I thought this was automatic on Ucas once the student had satisfied the conditions for the offer - having a sudden panic! Or is this just a Durham thing?

My friend's dd had to sign and return a form accepting a place at Cambridge too @Revengeofthepangolins.

Ds has accepted his place at Durham but he was a bit confused by the other forms that may need to be sent in, that were on the same login page. Apologies as I haven't RTFT but I'm thinking the college (once it's allocated) will ask for these if they need them?

Oh my DS said it was an email "return" sort of form which took literally seconds to fill ?

@Revengeofthepangolins the place does need to be accepted but is a really quick log in and check tick box exercise. The additional form stuff confused us too, but it appears to be ok to leave that for now

Thanks chaps

@Revengeofthepangolins There is nothing on the UCAS site to action however in the email your son will have been sent on Tues 10th titled "Congratulations" from Durham it says what do I do now? and there is a link asking him to "complete our offer acceptance form". Did he click that link?

It takes him to ssb.durham.ac.uk/BLIVE/twbkwbis.P_GenMenu?name=homepage he will need to click on the "enter secure area" bit and enter his log in and pin details which were sent to my Ds on 2nd August in an email so yours should have something too.

You then accept the place on that form.

Hi all. Another Durham History here, DS.

DS has accepted his place via the email link, lots of people seem to be referring to module choices on TSR, but apart from the original email acceptance, there doesn’t seem to be anything else to action on the portal? Is the acceptance the only thing to do at the moment?

@Longtimenewsee DD picked up a couple from ASOS, she read reviews carefully as so cheap, and then a classic gown from John Lewis which was heavily reduced in the sale. Older DD's have passed on some gowns too, and been enjoying helping her choose shoes etc.

I don't think there is anything else to action now? Expect more to do once colleges confirmed. Wonder if they will use students original preferences to help with those who need to be moved, I hope so.

Thank you @whoatethelastbiscuit.

I hope they will @whoatethelastbiscuit 🤞🏽