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Higher education

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

Original poster

Year abroad - is yours going? Soon?

75 replies

challengerequired · 12/08/2021 10:34

Dd is meant to arrive in France on the 1st of September. She's so nervous and anxious. She's meant to study at the university and has a room in halls.
She feels like she's the only one she knows who's actually going so soon- others are either doing virtual if non-European uni, or are delayed by visa issues - which dd doesn't have because she has an EU passport as well.
Just want to get a feel
for what's happening with others!

OP posts:
CointreauVersial · 12/08/2021 13:06

Yes! DD1 leaves on Monday, for University of Oklahoma. Her term starts next week, and she won't be back until the Christmas break.

Visa application was tortuous....but that's the US for you. We have had some other challenges, mainly because DD1 has recently had Covid, so can't take the necessary PCR test to travel.

She doesn't know anyone else going there, but the exchange students have all been chatting on WhatsApp groups, and there are a few Brits from around the country. She has been given three flatmates - one German, one Korean, one we're not sure.

She is excited but nervous.....busy packing as we speak.

Chemenger · 12/08/2021 13:22

DD is in Mexico now on her year abroad. There are several hundred exchange students there from all over the world. Getting there was tricky, the university only informed her she would be permitted her to travel 8 days before the start of term. She's been there for nearly two weeks and has just tested positive for Covid. Not a massive surprise; they have had a full on freshers week experience. She had it last year and has had one vaccination so hopefully she will bounce back quickly. The Scottish NHS refused to give her her second vaccination early, thanks for that Nicola.

Chemenger · 12/08/2021 15:57

CointreauVersial How did you get round the PCR for travel to the US? My DD will want to travel to the US while she's there and now she will won't be able to do a PCR,

Malbecfan · 12/08/2021 17:37

Mine is meant to be in Japan by 6th September but the Japanese embassy won't grant her a visa. Her university out there has allocated her a room and will hold it without payment until 31st March - as soon as she turns up, she starts paying. Her UK uni will be allocating her a room on a weekly payment plan so she can hopefully give a week's notice and go. She is going to start classes online from the UK but work on Japanese time - interesting!

She has had all the inoculations she needs for Japan and has her 2nd Covid jab tomorrow. Come on Japanese embassy, give her a visa!

geogteach · 12/08/2021 17:56

Mine is due in Morocco on the 4th. Only found out today who is going and has never met the other students on his course due to COVID. Just found out today there is travel ban from the city he is due to swap planes in so more complications... Accommodation can't
Be sorted till he arrives so just booked a hotel to start with

CointreauVersial · 12/08/2021 22:34

@Chemenger - she has to show "documentation of recovery" to get into the US, which is her positive PCR result (within last 90 days - shows on her NHS Covid Passport) plus a letter from a GP to say she has recovered and no longer needs to isolate.

The latter was harder to get hold of than you'd think - her own university GP refused to help (that's a whole other story...), so in desperation I had to ask a GP friend to see her and produce a letter.

I'll let you know on Monday if it's enough.....!

Luckily the unversity did expedite her jabs, and she will JUST be 14 days post second jab when she gets there, so no quarantine.

Blimey, some of you are dealing with HUGE uncertainty. My nerves wouldn't stand it.

Chemenger · 12/08/2021 23:30

That all doesn’t sound easy to get in Mexico…

Original poster
challengerequired · 27/08/2021 08:48

Anyone else going to a European uni?

OP posts:
MarchingFrogs · 27/08/2021 12:54

DD is going to Aix-en-Provence. Eventually. Visa appointment next week (delay actually not of her making, although it did take ages to find a flat).

Snowjive2 · 28/08/2021 18:50

DS left in early August for 4 years in USA. Visa processes were very swift and efficient. He was not the most organised person, but is learning fast!

bevelino · 28/08/2021 19:32

@challengerequired

Anyone else going to a European uni?
Dd4 is spending 6 months in Madrid and 6 months in Bologna. I am hoping her experience will be better than dd1 whose year abroad was disrupted by the pandemic.
waltzingparrot · 28/08/2021 20:05

DS is going to Pamplona, when he can get a visa. He wanted to go on the 1st Sept to join in the welcome week. The whole visa debacle has sort of soured the start and added to the anxiety.

Original poster
challengerequired · 28/08/2021 20:53

@waltzingparrot wasn't there talk of letting students travel on a tourist visa to get them moving?

OP posts:
waltzingparrot · 28/08/2021 21:52

@challengerequired. Just talk at the moment. Nothing officially agreed. He's been advised by both his UK and Spanish university not to travel over as a tourist.

Wowthatsalot · 28/08/2021 21:57

I have a DC off to France as soon as they can prove they are double jabbed.
They are doing all the admin on their own, visa sorted, private room found ( Uni halls offered were awful, squat toilet shared with the whole flat), I'm not involved at all.
I'm like a spare part.

Original poster
challengerequired · 28/08/2021 22:08

@Wowthatsalot goodness Wowthatsalot, squat toilets?? Where is that??

OP posts:
Original poster
challengerequired · 28/08/2021 22:08

@waltzingparrot that's terrible

OP posts:
Wowthatsalot · 29/08/2021 10:23

Has anyone got any information on banking and bank accounts?
I have tried to tell DC there will be banking changes using their Nationwide accounts but I'm not sure it's registered

Original poster
challengerequired · 29/08/2021 12:17

Dd is planning to use Monzo but I don't know any details

OP posts:
waltzingparrot · 29/08/2021 14:06

DS has opened a Starling account. The blurb says this....

Starling customers receive a full UK current account. But, with the option to hold money in Euros and to send and receive them with no fee. A Starling account may also be useful for European students and frequent travellers. Starling is certainly a feature packed bank with a lot of appeal to those that carry a smartphone everywhere.

SusanBAnthony999 · 29/08/2021 17:50

DS used Revolut last year.

IsItShining · 29/08/2021 21:48

Goodness. I’ve realised I have no idea how DS is sorting out banking, and he’s been there two months now.

Bad, bad parent.

Chemenger · 31/08/2021 09:05

DD has Starling.

ifonly4 · 31/08/2021 17:09

DD is off to Germany at the weekend. Her Ghic application has been delayed, so she won't have that in time. She had to be double vaccinated before travel which was going to be tight, she approached doctor who readily agreed to let her have her second one early. She has to have a blocked bank account, as they want assurance she can pay her fees - she's been transferring sums of £1000 at a time today, as she didn't want to risk £10,000 going amiss.

Challengerequired I hope your DD is ok and ready for tomorrow.

Everyone else, would be lovely to know how your DCs are getting on.
Due to covid, there have been times in the past I thought she'd never get to this point. She knows a couple who won't be able to go last minute, one can't get her Spanish visa on time, the other has a Scottish doctor but she was vaccinated in England and it's caused problems.

Wowthatsalot · 31/08/2021 20:33

@ifonly4

Can you elaborate on the Scottish/English vaccine issue if you know anymore please.
I posted in chat but no reply.

We have a similar situation here. One vaccine in England and one in Scotland.