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Higher education

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

Original poster

Can you take a week off?!

57 replies

OuiOuiMonAmi · 13/07/2021 00:29

Planning a family holiday in half-term - but then discovered that uni students don't get half-terms! How strict are unis about attendance - is it like school, where you can't take time off in term time unless essential?

OP posts:
irresistibleoverwhelm · 13/07/2021 00:33

Depends on the university and course. Some may have a reading week mid-term. At others (eg Oxford and Cambridge) attendance is expected and tutors will take a very dim view of skipping off: you have to apply to your tutor to even leave the town for a few nights during term! It varies.

Also most universities are unlikely to fuss if you do attend a few seminars or lectures - but you also won’t get any replacement teaching on that material, or any help if you’re behind from missing it.

irresistibleoverwhelm · 13/07/2021 00:34

*if you don’t that should say!

memberofthewedding · 13/07/2021 00:42

This question is like "how long is a piece of string" and varies with the uni.

When I worked at Manchester (psychology) there was no check on students attending lectures but attendance at tutorials was monitored. If you missed two in a row your personal tutor was supposed to check up on you. However this was for pastoral rather than disciplinery reasons as we dont want students to drop through the cracks.

Taking the odd week off would probably not be noticed. Most students would ask a friend to collect any hand out material for them and students borrow one anothers lecture notes. Its up to the individual to make up the work. Students are assumed to be adults.

It may be different in the science faculties where students have experiments to watch.

RampantIvy · 13/07/2021 00:50

It will be up to the student to catch up. If they aren't coping with the workload they won't want to go on holiday. Students get marked down for work that is handed in late.

In DD's case a week's holiday would have been out of the question.

tofuschnitzel · 13/07/2021 00:56

Each university has an attendance policy and it is worth checking before booking anything. At the university I attended, you could miss a certain percentage of teaching over the course of the year, but exceeding that would trigger disciplinary procedures. Your success on the course would also be greatly hindered by any absences. The Easter holidays might be a better time to go on holiday?

Scarby9 · 13/07/2021 01:09

Different for different universities and different courses.
We wouldn't allow time off for a holiday booked once term dates were shared.

ElephantOfRisk · 13/07/2021 01:13

One of DSs courses awarded 10% for attending! Other classes would give the notes by qr code at the lecture. However that was pre covid and lots of stuff being online. Last year we had a short break and both DSs attended some uni work stuff online while we were away.

Losttheequipment · 13/07/2021 01:26

Don’t most of them get about 5 months off each year? Hard to argue the need for an extra week really!

Micemakingclothes · 13/07/2021 01:31

It can also vary by course. Some instructors have strict attendance requirements, some only care about written work or exams.

It’s just a bad idea though. A really, really, bad idea.

RampantIvy · 13/07/2021 07:11

It’s just a bad idea though. A really, really, bad idea

Yes, it is. Better hope that the destination has excellent Wi-Fi.

Solidaritea · 13/07/2021 07:19

Bad idea both for the uni work and socially. Leave her to manage her time. She's an adult so doesn't need to go on family holiday with you (although I appreciate that with the year we've had, it is more tempting as you've all likely missed out on other holidays).

orangejuicer · 13/07/2021 07:22

@Losttheequipment

Don’t most of them get about 5 months off each year? Hard to argue the need for an extra week really!
Not quite!
TheDrsDocMartens · 13/07/2021 07:23

@Solidaritea

Bad idea both for the uni work and socially. Leave her to manage her time. She's an adult so doesn't need to go on family holiday with you (although I appreciate that with the year we've had, it is more tempting as you've all likely missed out on other holidays).
This. Do they want to go? And is it practical to go if they live elsewhere and potentially need to travel to/from uni.
Auntienumber8 · 13/07/2021 07:30

The last University I worked at became strict mainly because attendance stats had to be monitored due to immigration data required by an external Government agency though I can’t remember which one.

Don’t encourage your DD to skip lectures.

Radio4ordie · 13/07/2021 07:36

Are you a mature student?
I took time off and still did well, but attendance was not particularly important as they had good handouts and lectures were recorded. Tutorials it would be noticed but not an issue to miss the odd one.
Depends on the subject though, obviously.

TheDevils · 13/07/2021 07:38

Check when reading week is. They usually coincide with half terms - although it will be the half term where the university is located.
Universities have an attendance policy which will be in the student handbook.

At my university students are expected to swipe in at each lecture or seminar. If you're absent you will get contacted by the attendance officer and repeated absences will see you being contacted by the dean and referred to a progress tutor.
You can self authorise absences for illness but a holiday would be frowned upon.

caughtinanet · 13/07/2021 07:41

She's an adult so doesn't need to go on family holiday with you

Meanwhile back in the real world it's totally unremarkable for over 18s to go on holiday with their parents. Where does it say that the OP is press ganging her child on a holiday?

I didn't realise that unis are now so hot on attendance, when I was there no one would have noticed and I did a quite full on subject with a good number of lectures

As everyone else has said, check the specifics

RampantIvy · 13/07/2021 07:42

Not all universities or courses have a reading week, and many students need reading week to complete assignments.

mumsneedwine · 13/07/2021 07:43

As all the lectures may still be on line next year they could do them from the holiday.

AttaGirrrrl · 13/07/2021 07:44

Does she want to go? If it’s October half term she’s likely to only have been there a few weeks and be settling into the course, meeting new people, etc.

DoTheNextRightThing · 13/07/2021 07:45

You sound like my dad lol. Never quite learned that I didn’t get "October holidays" at uni.

But yes, you are supposed to be in class. At my uni, you got hauled in for disciplinary and possible expulsion if you missed three classes. A holiday would not be a valid excuse. Also, you're paying to be there. You generally want to attend the classes.

LIZS · 13/07/2021 07:55

Even during a Reading Week students are often expected to stay, and may have some classes scheduled. Contact hours and whether/when Reading Week is varies. Terms are only 8-10 weeks, do they really need a week away?

motogogo · 13/07/2021 07:59

You aren't allowed time off, the terms are published years in advance. That said it's not school and people skip lectures all the time. Some courses have required elements though eg practicals which can't be repeated on a different week, the mark from practicals is part of the final mark. Non science courses also may have graded compulsory exercises eg presentations but unlikely in late October. Reading week is usually a different week to school half term in my experience

Solidaritea · 13/07/2021 08:01

@caughtinanet

She's an adult so doesn't need to go on family holiday with you

Meanwhile back in the real world it's totally unremarkable for over 18s to go on holiday with their parents. Where does it say that the OP is press ganging her child on a holiday?

I didn't realise that unis are now so hot on attendance, when I was there no one would have noticed and I did a quite full on subject with a good number of lectures

As everyone else has said, check the specifics

Bit of a leap to go from the sentence you quoted from me to the assumption that I was implying OP is smothering or forcing her adult daughter on holiday with them.

All I meant is: she doesn't have to go, so don't feel guilty for booking when she can't come.

Why do people on this site insist on putting words in other people's mouths?

ApolloandDaphne · 13/07/2021 08:01

I am a mature student and I organise my term time holidays around reading week. The uni your DC is at should have a list of academic dates/terms.