Thrills and spills of studying in London

[stoneysongs]

A thread for supporters of DC heading to London unis - was originally going to be UCL which seems very popular this year, but expanded at @Needmoresleep's excellent suggestion.

For chats about moving in, what to take, living in London, whether an Oyster card is worth bothering with, how to do a big shop, where to park at drop off, the dreaded search for 2nd year accommodation etc etc etc

Tagging people I've spotted from the ex Oxbridge thread but all welcome including those with DC currently in London who can share their wisdom and anyone thinking of it for 2025 or beyond

@catmomof3
@lifeturnsonadime
@PotentialUCLmum
@CoffeeMugShot
@space99
@FebruarySmith
@mynameisnotmichaelcaine
@Summertimer

By way of intro I have a DD going to UCL to study BASc Arts and Sciences.

"We don’t live far outside London so DD already has the Oyster card"

@PotentialUCLmum your DD may not yet have the 18+ student oyster photo card, because you need a letter from uni to get one - see https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel/18-plus-student-oyster-photocard

We live in Greater London, so my DS always had Oyster Zip cards for school. He wasn't able to get the student card until the first week of term after he'd formally registered for UCL.

You are right. Thanks. I think she’s onto that because she said you can still link the railcard to the discounted student one to get an even higher discount.

F

Hi DD going to LSE to study IR.
Thanks for starting the thread.
@Perplexed20 is accommodation more difficult for LSE students than others at central London universities?

Thank you @Londonis. Hope you don't mind me asking how has your dc experience at IC been? What did they do for accommodation?

@Lightsabre DC has loved IC. Didn't ever think he would end up at a London uni (as we are Greater London) but has been the best decision he took and was very impressed after the subject talk at open day. His first year was in halls in Paddington (Wilson House) and he has made a lot of friends. He took his bike to halls and it's a 10 min cycle to uni through Hyde Park. Loads of societies and a good SU. Living out in a house share in Hammersmith for year 2.

Re meningitis jabs – I’ve just asked my friend who is a practice nurse and she has sent the following information. Hope it’s useful to others.
^^
She should have had meningitis ACWY at school as part of the nhs immunisation schedule. If she didn’t have it, her GP surgery can give it to her. She can have it up until the age of 25.

Thank you @Londonis for the information. Have IC been supportive, for example with finding industry placements (if your ds needed one)? Or just generally supportive?

Ds was also impressed with his subject talk at the open day, the course seemed more innovative than others he'd considered.

I also got mine to have the flu jab before they went. With lots of international students in halls, so many of them have no immunity to our bugs so there's a lot of sickness in the first few months!

This is great - just put a reminder on my phone to sort DS's Oyster card when we get home (we're in France at the moment). DS is off to Imperial to study Maths.

@Lightsabre

They've been supportive so far. DS is not at the industry placement stage so can't comment on that but IC is very well connected and regarded so opportunities are plenty. And generally my experience of London unis is that they are on the ball in terms of career stuff. But like any uni it is for the student to take the initiative to ask for help/support and seek opportunities.

UCL have sent DD an email inviting to a webinar today(!) about accommodation and moving in.

May be worth any DC checking inboxes and junk folders in case they've also got one but haven't seen it yet.

Do you know what time this is? DD is at work till 2pm so hoping she doesn't miss it.

4pm @catmomof3

There's a second one on 11 Sep, but seems to be a follow up rather than repeat.

They may of course be doing more than just these two dates

@CoffeeMugShot Thank you she'll be home by then so won't miss out.

My DS watched the webinar and found it useful. He has signed up for the one on the 11th but will be out of the country so it might be tricky.

DD was at work. Said the email didn’t even give the time for today? 11th Sept one is more important apparently?

Think you had to click in to both to see the time. They did mention today’s one in an email a few weeks back but I should imagine most DC would not have remembered without the reminder. My DS certainly wouldn’t have known about it or remembered if I didn’t remind him.

DD ended up missing it after all that anyway - work asked her to stay on after her shift - and will be away for the second one. Hopefully it's just another way of conveying the information in emails/online

I'm so impressed you remembered my drama all those years ago!!
Yes Falmouth run the degree and kept her in decision waiting for 4 days after results. In the end it was a no as she had missed the ucas points needed, but she did a level 4 btec at the FRA and is now on their accelerated degree run by Falmouth and about to start her second and final year.

She's absolutely loved the last two years and is out on work placement at the moment. It all worked out really well despite the stress we had back then.

Thanks for the welcome, it's strange both my girls have chosen to stay and commute to London but I'm happy if they are getting on well.

Sorry she's doing communication and marketing for fashion, she's either going to look for a marketing job or complete a PGCE and look to be a teacher.
She's open minded and will just see where she is in a year!

DD signed up to the flourish welcome party with her two friends from her old school so I know she won't be going alone and then she's going for tea with the Dean which is to do with arts and humanities. She said she just wants the free food 🤣

Glad to find this thread. DS going to UAL/LCF for his first year in Sept, He's signed up to check into his accommodation on Friday before welcome week. I'd originally suggested Sunday but he wants to be there for whole weekend.

Interesting to read about the student oyster. Sounds like that will be his best bet. If he likes his student railcard does he automatically get the reductions if he taps in/out. His daily journey will be either a tube or rail journey. He's got ADHD and trying to do as much admin with him before he goes. But sounds like we can't get until he registers/gets there?

A bit of a bizarre tip, but here goes.

I went to university in Canterbury, so had to cross London to get the next train to take me home. I found it much easier to use a hiking rucksack to carry things home, as it kept your hands free when trying to travel on the tube.

Anyone else whose child is going to UCL but not heard anything about accommodation yet? She says she is expecting to hear on 27 August. Nothing in her junk email.