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Higher education

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

Original poster

Is anyone sending their child back to Uni?

84 replies

andannabegins · 22/02/2021 19:28

Just that really. I have a DD in her first year. She is desperate to go back to Uni, we want her to go back and her life back a little. Is anyone just letting their child go even though they aren't doing a 'practical' course?

OP posts:
CheeseAndBaconOatcake · 22/02/2021 21:04

So glad mine are back, being with people there own age so much better than being stuck with me.

Nettleskeins · 22/02/2021 21:07

Everyone has the right to "move house", wherever that house/flat/room might be. It isnt illegal to move house, and therefore it is not illegal or even against guidance to move back too your university town. Being on campus, once moved back, is a different issue, which the universities presumably CAN pronounce on.
If ds wasnt allowed back to hishis halls, and given a refund, I would.be iinvestigating a private rental for him, even if it cost a bit extra. But he has gone back, in January, and so have most remaining people in feb. No refund.

SarahLox77 · 22/02/2021 21:08

Mine is back as of last week. She was the last of 8 in her flat to return. None of them doing practical courses so all lectures / seminars online until Easter at least. At least she has some social life there, unlike at home.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 22/02/2021 21:11

This thread reinforces my feelings of unfairness.

JaywickCaravanOfLust · 22/02/2021 21:14

I think most of the students here are back. I imagine lots are immune anyway after all the piss ups they had last term so I guess them travelling in lockdown was ok.

Susie477 · 22/02/2021 21:17

@MrBullinaChinaShop

Uni students are adults and therefore it’s their decision as to whether they return or not.
Exactly this.

If my parents had tried to tell me where to go or what to do when I was a young adult student, they would have got a blunt two word response.

Nettleskeins · 22/02/2021 21:22

Kitten how can your dd be prevented from legitimately moving back to her own privately organised accommodation.

It is a ridiculous waste that she should have to organise something, but perhaps the college doesnt want to take responsibility, it may even be an insurance issue, and they are secretly hoping students will do "their own thing". But they cannot SAY this out loud, maybe there are very vulnerable employees etc.
In your position, I would be looking at legitimate solutions.

Newgirls · 22/02/2021 21:22

Yes not up to parents

BUT they were not meant to go back were they? We were told not to travel. The mess here is that unis haven’t refunded their accom fees so have turned a blind eye, wanting the income.

ShaunaTheSheep · 22/02/2021 21:23

Mine returned at the start of term, along with all but one of his flatmates. Yes, everything is online but at least he can salvage some of his uni experience that is costing him and me ££££.

I’m hoping that Boris’s pronouncement will allow labs and practicals to start on 8th March.

hamstersarse · 22/02/2021 21:26

DS went back to halls mid Jan

He's got some form of life there. His course isn't practical but he was paying for accommodation so had every right to go back.

They have been treated disgustingly though - unis have been a disgrace throughout this expecting people to stump up money when they cannot fulfill their contracts

Nettleskeins · 22/02/2021 21:27

They were allowed to go back if studying at home was unsuitable(space, internet, welfare, type of course), or for mental health reasons.
And they were allowed to travel for education, or to move house.
Take your pick!!

hamstersarse · 22/02/2021 21:27

p.s. they have ALL had Covid in his halls already. A student village of about 1700 people and it swept through in October last year

MrBullinaChinaShop · 22/02/2021 21:29

@Newgirls

Yes not up to parents

BUT they were not meant to go back were they? We were told not to travel. The mess here is that unis haven’t refunded their accom fees so have turned a blind eye, wanting the income.

You are permitted to ‘move house’, even in lockdown.
Queenie24 · 22/02/2021 21:31

Mine both went back straight after Christmas. We live in Wales and they both go to University in Wales. They are both having to pay for accommodation so are using it. There is no way we could of managed with 5 people doing online learning at home.

JaywickCaravanOfLust · 22/02/2021 21:32

Whenever I've moved out of a house I haven't let myself back in a few weeks later to get myself a roast dinner and do my washing but maybe it's different for different people.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 22/02/2021 21:34

@Nettleskeins

Kitten how can your dd be prevented from legitimately moving back to her own privately organised accommodation.

It is a ridiculous waste that she should have to organise something, but perhaps the college doesnt want to take responsibility, it may even be an insurance issue, and they are secretly hoping students will do "their own thing". But they cannot SAY this out loud, maybe there are very vulnerable employees etc.
In your position, I would be looking at legitimate solutions.

She lives in college accommodation and they literally wouldn't allow her on to site into her room. At the end of each term they hand their key back to the porters.

If she had some clarity on the situation and knew that she isn't going back next term then she would be able to find a short term rental I expect, but would be sharing with strangers. I'm not sure it would be wise in her third year exam term. She needs some answers.

MrBullinaChinaShop · 22/02/2021 21:34

@JaywickCaravanOfLust

Whenever I've moved out of a house I haven't let myself back in a few weeks later to get myself a roast dinner and do my washing but maybe it's different for different people.
And I imagine most students aren’t doing this either at the moment. My student relatives are staying out in their student accommodation during lockdown.
OhYouBadBadKitten · 22/02/2021 21:35

@Nettleskeins

They were allowed to go back if studying at home was unsuitable(space, internet, welfare, type of course), or for mental health reasons. And they were allowed to travel for education, or to move house. Take your pick!!
Except dds college said no. Which I realise is an exceptional and awful reaction.
Ironoaks · 22/02/2021 21:40

DS is doing a practical course (science course requiring lab work). There is no indication that the university will be resuming practicals yet, and he is not allowed to go back. He lives in university-owned accommodation and received an email to remind him that he shouldn't go back yet, and that the keycard won't work to open his room until they authorise it.

FrameyMcFrame · 22/02/2021 21:44

Dd has been back since January... she's 2nd year and has paid for her house and wants to be there with her friends... seems fair enough

bigbluebus · 22/02/2021 21:46

DS is still here. He's been talking about going back for a few weeks but hasn't actually gone yet! He's the only one in his house of 4 who is still at his home address. DH will have to drive him back there when he decides to go. He's not doing a practical subject though so will carry on online until after Easter at least. Assume if they go back now they shouldn't really be coming home again at Easter - although DS can get a Covid test at Uni like he did in December. DH has had his 1st jab but not sure if I'll have had mine before Easter.

LindainLockdown · 22/02/2021 21:46

It is very obvious that universities have their own individual approach and interpretation of the national lockdown rules, thankfully my son's uni have been one of the less draconian ones and treated the students as the adults they are, and not as kids to be "sent" back.

Nettleskeins · 22/02/2021 21:55

Kitten, her college, like any landlord as the right to make their own judgement about the "safety"' of accommodation. But they cannot stop her going TO LIVE IN CAMBRIDGE elsewhere for three months if.SHE CHOOSES TO MOVE HOUSE.

IvySquirrel · 22/02/2021 22:05

Both mine have gone back. DS1, 3rd year Cambridge college and DS2 1st year campus, practical course. No issues with them going as they were fed up with being at home. They are adults and it's their choice.
I'm also a university lecturer in a practical subject. This has been by far the worst and most challenging experience of my professional life. I have never worked so hard and cannot wait til 8th March to get our students back even in a minimal and socially distanced way. I can't speak for other places but my institution has been brilliant throughout in its fairness to students and approach to safety.

jelly79 · 22/02/2021 22:10

Mine has been there since end Dec

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