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??

My NatSci dd has completed enrolment, selected her modules and started the pre course reading, ordered textbooks and has a bedroom stacked high with the contents of IKEA and John Lewis. I am incredulous that the uni is now seeking deferrals.

I also feel sorry for current year 13. There will be very slim pickings at Durham for them.

I think current year 13's will have to do a FOI request to find out how many deferrals there are for their subjects. I know History had 30 from last year

@Meery, yes, all that too! She is completely invested in leaving in just over 2 weeks.
What will happen if no-one closes to defer?

Chooses!

@chopc good idea. My dd is one of those and her chosen subject is on that list that they are asking to defer.

@chopc. Apparently overall university numbers are slightly down this year due to sharp fall in EU students coming to uk
Record numbers of UK 18 year olds are going though

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-58478227.amp

As 2021 has been a year of record A-level achievement, it’ll mean that more students have met their offers than expected.

I wonder what the knock on effects will be for 2022, if unis are coping with more deferrals and high numbers of student applications?

Just wondering how the Year 2’s are feeling about going back to Durham this term?

@SpringSparrow can only speak for my DS, he can't wait. He made the best of last year but it was stressful, the Freshers experience was not what it should have been, lots of functions cancelled, limited ability to mix and make friends, and so much on line when he just wanted to get in labs. But I think Durham did the best they could with a constantly changing landscape.

DD kept her college allocation so is off to Hatfield, so we will have two there. She hasn't been impressed with all the college uncertainty, a number of those on the Twatfield (not a spelling error) thread, who she had been chatting to, were reallocated. Pleased to say the Hatfield freps seem on it and have had a couple of zoom introduction meetings already, think there might be a couple more to go but not sure, which DD has found useful, she has chosen her modules(now confirmed), paid all the college fees etc. and is really getting excited now

Haven't heard when we are due to pay accomodation fees (we are paying these and she will have minimum loan to live on). Last year the first payment was in November, but not sure if that is standard - does anyone know?

Just waiting for the accomodation allocation and moving in day like most now ...

meant to say first payment for Collingwood was in November - maybe it varies by college?

Anyone else still waiting for a room to be allocated (Trevelyan here). According to the timetable they are supposed to confirm whether they can make moving slots early next week - bit difficult when you haven't got a room yet!

I’m hoping this varies by college.. or maybe Dd is missing something?! No college fees paid ( do you mean jcr fee?) .. no frep communication or zooms . No modules sorted. No accommodation slots or idées where her accommodation may be. We are mostly confused tbh

@libbytrois we are waiting on Trevs too. We really need to know as need to book accommodation as travelling from SE.

[quote Meery]@libbytrois we are waiting on Trevs too. We really need to know as need to book accommodation as travelling from SE.[/quote]
We are from the south too! Son is really chilled (I'm not 😱). Hopefully we will hear soon.

@Longtimenewsee

I’m hoping this varies by college.. or maybe Dd is missing something?! No college fees paid ( do you mean jcr fee?) .. no frep communication or zooms . No modules sorted. No accommodation slots or idées where her accommodation may be. We are mostly confused tbh

Same here @Longtimenewsee - it's a shambles.

@Longtimenewsee join the club 🤦🏽‍♀️. Only reason I am calm is because getting worked up is not going to change anything and I have managed to secure overnight accommodation for all three of us so can have a little flexibility with moving in times

Also waiting for Trevs, hopefully it will be soon.

College websites include all the details of when fees are due. Trevs has an incoming students area which includes a checklist ( yes the dates have flipped as discussed !) but also all the finance information . College accommodation fees are not payable until November to avoid the situation at other universities where you have to pay before the loan comes in. JCR fees details are also in the handbook. In the Trevs one there is also a checklist of what to bring and what not to bring, what’s in the rooms , size of beds , college contacts etc .

We are really trying to be relaxed here , they will have accommodation , unlike some other RG universities where there are literally first years who have no accommodation with only a week to go.

@Peaseblossum22 that's really helpful information thank you.

www.durham.ac.uk/colleges-and-student-experience/colleges/trevelyan/ugwelcome/

Ds was also sent an email several weeks ago with information and links and a pre arrival college checklist. Also on the university website for incoming students they can put in college and dept and it will give them the first week induction timetable and details of matriculation. Obviously we are way behind on some dates but there is a lot of information available.

The way I see it, a large part of the reason why DS applied to Durham is because of the collegiate system and how first years are accommodated in halls

So I don't feel grateful at the moment - just angry at their mismanagement and the additional stress caused in what has already been a stressful year

*accomodated in their college rather

I suppose the alternative would have been to offer far fewer places in the winter , or once Gavin made his announcement to just stop making offers so that they could be sure not to overshoot. As I said earlier I do think they should have suspended college allocations until after results but I can imagine the uproar if they had said that in March.

Why would there have been an uproar as isn't that how it's normally done? (They allocate colleges after results)?

No , to my knowledge it’s never been done like that . Colleges usually allocated from February onwards . Ds received his college in March 2020 roughly a fortnight after his offer and annoyingly after the college open day. They did change the method this year, previously you applied to a college at the same time as university through UCAS , this year was the first time people have had a preferences system .

York and Lancaster do colleges after results

Just checked with someone in the know, he said in 30 years to his knowledge Durham have always allocated pre the acceptance deadline