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Higher education

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

Original poster

University 2019/20 intake: vacations, vaccinations, va-va-voom restored and virtually into their third year

990 replies

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 18/06/2021 10:34

Previous thread

OP posts:
icanbewhatiwant · 31/01/2022 14:28

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 also Ds says he's got exams end of May. So I don't know if he finishes 20th.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 31/01/2022 14:40

The later they finish they better in that case (in terms of having to pay CT!) @icanbewhatiwant!

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 31/01/2022 14:59

Just had a message from DD. She has covid and feels really rough.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 31/01/2022 17:39

Oh no @RampantIvy that's really rough for her Sad.

OP posts:
chocolatenutcase · 01/02/2022 09:34

@RampantIvy gosh that's the last thing your DD needs. I hope she manages to get over it quickly. If she's struggling I'd definitely suggest her raising concerns early to her department head and tutor so that mitigations can be put in place. My DD has been in constant contact with her tutors regarding her illness the past 2 terms. It takes the pressure off because they know what's happening so are supportive rather than critical and on her case.

Good luck on sorting graduations. I'm reading carefully for Durham so I'm prepared for next year with hotel bookings etc.

RampantIvy · 01/02/2022 10:57

Yes. I told her to let her dissertation tutor and personal tutor know. Her dissertation tutor works on covid wards 3 days a week so, hopefully he will be understanding, and might even give her some advice.

bigTillyMint · 01/02/2022 16:34

Your poor DD @RampantIvy Flowers

RampantIvy · 01/02/2022 16:36

Thank you everyone. She is feeling much worse today. She did another LFT and the line came up straight away. It was just a faint line yesterday. The NHS won't send her any ore LFTs so I have had to post some to her.

I feel so helpless being 100 miles away. I can't even go and fetch her home to look after her as DH is too vulnerable.

Benjispruce5 · 01/02/2022 16:45

Oh I’m sorry to hear that @RampantIvy. Really hope she doesn’t suffer much. Flowers

blametheparents · 01/02/2022 18:09

@RampantIvy - Hope your DD is ok. Maybe send a care parcel or something similar?

RampantIvy · 01/02/2022 18:11

Yes. I will do that. She has loads of food in, but as she prefers to cook proper meals she has no ready meals.

simbobs · 02/02/2022 02:10

Only just caught up, @RampantIvy, so sorry to hear about your DD. I hope she is feeling better better already, but taking things easy if not.

On the issue of Council Tax it had never occurred to me that students could have to pay this year if their term finishes before their contract! Will any of them have any money left by then?

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 02/02/2022 04:11

Gosh, I can't believe it's been so long since I posted on here. Just spent ages catching up. Haven't they all been through some ups and downs?!

All is OK here. DD1 enjoyed being face to face this academic year. She was in the process of a total breakdown a year ago, but now she's doing well. She has another year at uni after this one. She hasn't done any internships but her work-study jobs at uni have involved teaching, tutoring and marking, and I think she's in a good position to work in academia, potentially. She's a really good teacher at higher ed level, but she'd hate teaching anyone younger I suspect.

She's planning on doing a summer school in Spain, so her birthday present will probably be the flights there.

Good luck to all of yours during this next few months. So much going on for them all.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 02/02/2022 06:59

@simbobs it's shocking really, isn't it (re CT)? I only know about it because whoever did the 'we're students' email to DS's city council in year two of their degree, put DS down as completing his studies in 2021. So come the end of term (but not their house contract) he was being badgered to pay it, even though he shouldn't have been.

Hope you manage to sort out a care box of scrumptiousness for your DD @RampantIvy, and that she starts to feel a whole lot better soon.

Great to hear from you @ZZTopGuitarSolo. Are most US degrees four years? I think that's a better length of time in which to enjoy student life and think about what to do next. Three years goes so quickly (particularly when most of it has been in a pandemic!). Good to hear that your DD is back on top of things and enjoying student life, including the opportunity to travel to Spain!

OP posts:
Benjispruce5 · 02/02/2022 07:09

Can I just clarify re council tax? Are you saying a full year of council tax is payable or just the month or so after term ends?

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 02/02/2022 07:13

@Benjispruce5 it's only CT for the months when they are no longer officially students. Apparently, even if they've got a post-grad course lined up for the following academic year, councils still see them as liable to pay CT for those few months.

Of course it's fine and dandy if you have a few (or more) housemates all finishing their courses at the same time, so they can share the burden, but I have no idea how the council works it out if you only have one or two who are eligible to pay it (but the others aren't). I suspect they have to pay the monthly amount due divided by the number who are eligible which could work out quite costly for a large rental property in a town/city where CT is expensive.

OP posts:
bigTillyMint · 02/02/2022 07:35

Re CT, I know DD had a fight with Bristol as she finished her BSc then started her MSc. I think she managed to convince them that she was still a student, but maybe she did have to pay for a month Confused

simbobs · 02/02/2022 10:42

I am going to have to break it to DS re Council Tax. As many of you know he is technically not a student at the moment, but was when proof was required so is keeping quiet. Ironically, he has just started a job as a marketing assistant, which could have been suitable for his placement year, in which case he would have still have been a student, iyswim. Unfortunately, this way the university does not benefit and neither does he. I am so thankful to this group.

Benjispruce5 · 02/02/2022 10:46

Do they stop being classed as a student on graduation day?

Benjispruce5 · 02/02/2022 10:46

DD’s is 28/6 and rent agreement ends 15/7.

icanbewhatiwant · 02/02/2022 11:09

If they finish May, I'm assuming they are to pay CT from that date, even though they graduate in July. But I'm not sure how it works. What if they move out completely? But pay rent owed, so they aren't officially living there. I'm assuming Ds will move back home or go travelling in June. He will pay his rent up until august. But he probably won't live there, though he's undecided.

It's great to hear from everyone. It doesn't seem that long ago that they all started their degrees and now they are almost at the end, or going onto masters etc.

simbobs · 02/02/2022 11:15

I'm now concerned about DD also, because she has deferred and moved back home but is still tied into the rental contract. She does still have a room there, though, and will be using it now and then.

bigTillyMint · 02/02/2022 11:50

It’s so complicated and not easy to find out.

@simbobs, SILs DS moved in with friends who are students in London but is working and now seems to be liable for the whole council tax on the property IIRC Shock

bigTillyMint · 02/02/2022 11:51

found this

icanbewhatiwant · 02/02/2022 12:29

@bigTillyMint what does it mean if it's an HMO then? Is the landlord liable. Not sure I understand that part.

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