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Higher education

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

Original poster

Durham University

599 replies

EwwSprouts · 21/06/2023 22:09

To quote @kingscotestaff The continuation thread for those with DC at Durham, or applying to Durham, or alumni, or staff!

June 2023 End of term for all. Hopefully young people are brim full of plans for summer fun and jobs to pay for it!

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]Previous thread (fingers crossed!)

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19
JudeOfMcDougle · 01/10/2023 14:16

@littlenickyy61 Ds is at Houghall Court which is Unite students, private halls of residence. Every room has an en-suite and shared kitchen, some are studio flats ie have their own kitchen within their room.

Houghall is opposite the massive Durham uni sports grounds The Graham Sports Centre. 10 minute walk to the science site. It has key card entry, 24 hour security and a manned reception desk. All bills in, fast speed internet. No shared bathrooms, no compromising on room sizes, a kitchen with a sofa seating area too. There are games rooms, TV rooms and study spaces too. Even if people wanted to house share they can potentially all flat share. Flats come in 5s, 6s, and 8s I believe. On site laundry and set in beautiful grounds.

Best bit is the price, especially when seeing it against that Harrington's list This year he is on a 41 week contract as it is his final year but he is paying £182 a week or £7480 this year and last year he was on a 51 week contract and just paid for another week to stay in the same room so we didn't have to move anything out. Ds is in an en-suite classic.

If they contact Houghall now they can tour it and go onto a waiting list for when the rooms become available. Ds had his tenancy by the end of October so I would say look now.

https://www.unitestudents.com/durham/houghall-court

Durham student accommodation at Houghall Court | Unite Students

Book your high quality student accommodation in Durham with Unite Students at Houghall Court. Great transport links to all Durham University campuses.

https://www.unitestudents.com/durham/houghall-court

JudeOfMcDougle · 01/10/2023 14:23

The best part is I am only guarantor for him and his room alone. Not a whole house of people. No dodgy landlords who don't upkeep the property, but a lovely well kept place.

littlenickyy61 · 01/10/2023 17:40

Judeofmcdougle - does the tenancy start from the set/oct and run through to the end of June and do you have to put a deposit down - many thanks for your help feel a bit out of my depth

GoldenRuby · 01/10/2023 19:31

Just back from a 500 mile round trip to drop DD off for Y2. The housemates went to the St John's bar last night, then briefly onto a club and all onto someone else's house before getting home in the early hours. It's not quite as easy living out, but it will keep them fit, and shared Ubers aren't too expensive and safer when it's late. She is a Combined Honours mentor this year and was meeting up with her mentees this afternoon, some kind of fun orienteering exercise around Durham to give them a chance to pick her brains.

KittyMcKitty · 01/10/2023 19:36

it sounds like she’s very busy @GoldenRuby ! Is she doing student theatre this year? Dd went to the DU student theatre social today and seems to have signed up.

GoldenRuby · 01/10/2023 21:32

@KittyMcKitty yes she is. She only managed to get backstage last year as competition is fierce, but she is going to keep trying. Her and one of her housemates are on the Exec for the Bailey Theatre Co (based at John’s) so hopefully will get a part in one of their shows, but even if she doesn't she is actively involved in running the society.

GoldenRuby · 01/10/2023 21:48

@KittyMcKitty - forgot to ask - is your DD sharing a room in the end, and is that going well?

Fawful · 01/10/2023 23:27

Have just dropped DS off as a 2nd year returner to his college hall, and I have to say the room is not v nice, stained carpet, rickety painted wardrobe, I had to dust the knackered 60s dresser, and the kitchen is unbelievably tiny as well as grimy (no table or chair - ok, he is in catered halls so I guess it's to be expected...), and since there's no other common space I don't know where and how he is supposed to meet the other people in the corridor?
Last year was the same, he didn't speak to anyone in the hall all year. I had high hopes for this year, but I think his room will again be no more than a place to crash. I told him to keep his room propped open but people just walked past in a hurry.
Oh well. At least he has one friend on his course.
May be more tempted by the private halls next year... Feeling a bit down on train back home!

Fruitygal · 02/10/2023 06:15

@Fawful sorry to hear it was a little grim. Do you mean he’s stayed in college for year 2? Sounds hard on the friends front but hopefully with clubs and societies plus at meals he may make new friends with some first years or others this year.

If it helps some of the private housing is more than a little grim - DD and her friends have had to deal with ‘Slug Gate’ in the past week?!? Luckily they pushed hard for action with a particularly hideous landlord and it’s been resolved!!

They made a coffee cake with an icing slug on to celebrate 🤣🤣🤣😂 thank god they have a sense of humour !

Fawful · 02/10/2023 07:49

Ah! 😄 yes, his friend did say his house was grim too. I guess the worse is what I imagine will be the isolation. Yes' he's back in his college. There's no porter either, I guess the building is too small, and they're not 1st years, so... The whole place was deserted yesterday.

KittyMcKitty · 06/10/2023 21:06

@GoldenRuby yes room sharing all seems fine - I think they are quite different people but she says she’s a good person to share with - they have an absolutely massive room as well! Dd seems v happy - over freshers flu now, loves her course, bought the college puffa so I take that to be a good sign! Messaged me earlier to say she thought she was going to stay in tonight as she was very tired - then messaged a bit later to say she was going on a college bar crawl starting at Stevo. She’s massively fortunate that all her lectures etc seem to be at New Elvet so super close!

chocolatenutcase · 07/10/2023 08:48

I hope all the new freshers are settling into Durham and their colleges. It's such an exciting time for them. I'm not sure if any of you know about the Durham lumiere festival. My DD was at johns, and in year 1 all the Bailey college students got tickets (I think because they live within the main area where the lights are) so @KittyMcKitty your DD might get the same this year. My DD has left now but we are going up in November to see the lights. We didn't manage to go when she was in third year so very excited but a bit weird to go up and she's not there!
www.lumiere-festival.com/

SpamhappyTootsie · 07/10/2023 10:24

I’m so glad she’s settling in well @KittyMcKitty .

mondaytosunday · 07/10/2023 13:15

What hall is he in @Fawful? One to avoid?!

GoldenRuby · 07/10/2023 19:11

It was DD's birthday yesterday, and her housemates decorated the house while she was out at her lecture as a surprise. Then they had a small party in the evening, and they had baked her a fantastic cake. They all realise they are very lucky with the amount of living space they have compared to some of their other friends, so they have told the landlord they will stay for next year as well (he gave them first refusal). One of the girls had a wobble as her dept is a long way away, but unless they want to pay £200+ a week to live on Whinney Hill they aren't going to get much closer.

Fruitygal · 07/10/2023 19:20

@GoldenRuby Happy Birthday to Baby Ruby !

Such good news on the house! I’d stick if they have a nice one! DD is just looking in a four as others on placement etc; Needed a change so good - couple of possible ideas so fingers crossed we can avoid the bunfight - which area are they in? DD in viaduct but happy to move for a good house - the mixture of courses means there’s always one having a longer walk

GoldenRuby · 07/10/2023 19:57

They are on Gilesgate, not far from the Hild Bede roundabout. Similar distance to most of the uni buildings to houses in the Viaduct. We're looking forward to not having to move her stuff in the summer!

Original poster
EwwSprouts · 07/10/2023 20:42

@GoldenRuby Friends who bake you a cake are worth holding on to! Hope she had a good time?

@Fawful Has your DS got chatting to people in his accommodation during the course of the week?

OP posts:
GoldenRuby · 07/10/2023 21:09

@EwwSprouts she had a lovely time thanks. Look at the size of this cake! They put candles on for her too.

Durham University
Fawful · 07/10/2023 21:12

He's in his college hall, @mondaytosunday, one of the buildings around St Mary's. Don't think he spoke to anyone, @EwwSprouts - well he doesn't answer my questions so I think that's what it means. He does have ASD, so he would have needed luck. To me, the layout of the place is not conducive to making connections. You never know what may happen, I guess...

Original poster
EwwSprouts · 07/10/2023 21:25

@GoldenRuby Wow! Fabulous.

@fawful Crossing my fingers! Does he have a friend from his course or last year's accommodation to catch up with?

OP posts:
Fruitygal · 07/10/2023 22:20

@GoldenRuby what a fab cake!!

Fawful · 08/10/2023 00:21

Yes EwwSprouts he does have one friend from his course from last year, thankfully, thank you. Right now he (DS) is back to doing this thing where he's avoiding my texts and calls, out of maybe a bit of demand avoidance (perceived demand - i would just like to know how he is). But he's gaming online with his brother tonight, so I guess he's not distraught. I don't want to leave him be, but there we are, I’m having to. He loves Durham, though, he was saying last week how he finds the old streets atmospheric, loves the old stones, the colours, autumn, early winter nights etc. He certainly doesn't wish he was anywhere else.
Gorgeous looking cake, @GoldenRuby!

Original poster
EwwSprouts · 08/10/2023 08:03

@Fruitygal I missed Slug Gate! Sounds singularly unpleasant. I hope the fun cake erased the worst memories.

@Fawful If he's out and about, appreciating the surroundings, hopefully that is a good sign. There have been comments on FB about small meals in catered accom this year could you get him talking about that as 'non-demanding'? When he randomly wanted to touch base DS last year would occasionally send me photos of his dinner as proof of vegetables!

OP posts:
Fruitygal · 08/10/2023 08:13

@EwwSprouts not the best but cake was delicious 😋 I’m told and no return of slugs since cracks were filled 🤣😂

Im venturing to Durham Tuesday as DD and bf down today for a thing on Tuesday am so quick 4.5hr dash back for a tutorial and I’m bringing the steam mop to have a go at their kitchen floor ?!?

DD invited me out with them all to the quiz night at their local but I may just do my own thing and not cramp their style 🤣😂

Also bringing beanbags and broom ( the house one is an outdoor one?!?) and I’m sure lots more DD wants now from home as she’s figured out room and house space etc - oh the temptation of all the space in Mum’s car?!? We are going to need a van in the summer ! 🤣😂