Stressing about DD's Uni Yr 3 year abroad - Portugal

[andjustwhatfreshhellisthis]

DD is supposedly going to Portugal in September for her Yr3 - she's studying Spanish and Portuguese at a UK Uni (4 year course) and the year abroad is mandatory.

Up until now, there has been very limited information provided from her Uni, regarding what she needs to do to get things done because it all harnesses on the Portuguese Uni application process and I'm extremely worried that we will run out of time to get things sorted.

We've been told that the application window opens on the 23rd June (so next week) and we have no idea how long it will take for them to process her application. She's already provided them with a proficiency certificate and they were very quick to come back and say that it was sufficient. Fingers crossed they'll confirm her place just as quick. However, she has been told by her UK Uni that she can't apply for a visa or organise accommodation until she has her place at the Portuguese Uni confirmed.

I read on a FB post it can take months to get a visa appointment! so what happens if she doesn't get a visa in time before the academic year starts; what do we do?

And how does she go about looking/applying for accommodation? She's already been told that Halls aren't available so that means she'll be living with people she doesn't know albeit overseas students, but they may not be Portuguese language students and I'm worried she'll end up in a hell-hole.

The UK Uni hasn't opened up the 'blackboard' (that's what they refer to it as) section of their on-line information so we've no idea if they supply accommodation links or if DD has to sort all of that alone. (We've asked the Uni directly (as we need to organise ourselves) and they will only correspond with DD, not with us))

In addition, she wants us (DH and I) to travel with her and spend a few days prior to her starting her course, with her and finding her way around so we have to look to book holiday from work, book flights, find a place to stay and it's all last minute!! Starting to panic!! Help....

Lawks. I just want to bury my head in the sand!! 😂

The majority of stories I'm hearing (either here, IG or FB or IRL) are ALL the same! Seems it's a headache, whatever universities are involved! Glad your boy enjoyed it though.

Thank you for the word of warning. What a horrible experience for your son. Hopefully, we can get DD's sorted before she goes but if not, we'll get her home in between time.

@andjustwhatfreshhellisthis DD went 12 years ago now and university didn’t get you accommodation then either. They just allocated places. MFL students grow up quickly. Erasmus was so much easier though. Also DDs university had ties with several unis in her target MFLs and that was helpful. No visas required for EU countries back then of course.

You have to look at this as your DD growing up and making decisions without you around. We did fly out with DD to move into the appartment at her first uni. She sorted everything out for second uni whilst still at the first. Where universities don’t have accommodation, there will be plenty of accommodation available privately. The uni should have a web site section for incoming international students. Scour that for info and possible agents. Most accommodation is ok I think.

DDs home university didn’t set exams in y3. They did set work though that counted. DD didn’t come home until July so definitely no exams. Work had to be based on your country abroad but wide choice given.

Getting back in y4 isn’t that easy if mates have graduated. Keep hold of 4 year degree friends!

I’m sorry, but this is par for the course since Brexit. My DD did a year in Spain as part of her degree and it was a nightmare sorting it all out. Plus, when she eventually found a place to stay it was a crack den and she had to find somewhere else. All very traumatic. Blame Nigel Farage. The unis don’t help at all. I suppose it’s character building but really there should be more help. Good luck 🤞

one of the problems is that many cities don’t have plentiful private accommodation, there are accommodation crises in lots of cities and it can be incredibly hard to find someone as a foreign student.

@parsnippotwhy was it so expensive? What are the costs involved? (DD starting mfl in September)

There was getting a visa which cost as well as trips to London to get it.

flying over and staying somewhere whilst looking for accommodation. Booking a big suitcase for the flight.

accommodation was more expensive than the city in the UK.

insurance

buying the things he couldn’t carry over with him - kitchen stuff, bedding stuff etc.

new phone contract as out of UK for a year.

generally higher costs in European city.

visits home.

there was no help with any of it so everything took a lot of time to research and sort, possibly some of it could have been cheaper.

it all added up! The amount of loan was static so the extra had to come from somewhere.

@Eazybreezy What should uk unis do? They cannot magic up halls of residence for international students. Or persuade landlords to reserve them for Brit students. Or get visas for dc. My DDs university had an office dedicated to this and so did her universities abroad. They are sources of info as are other students who have been. What did they do? There’s advice out there.

DDs university did have close links academically with the unis she went to and were as helpful as they could be. But this was pre Brexit. DD attended talks where they were honest about some universities being chaotic! Switzerland and Germany were considered organised.

DD didn’t get free choice of uni abroad. I think Oxford gives this. They have no links at all. Her uni had a good choice for most MFLs and a well trodden path. DD never felt on her own whilst planning but Erasmus was so much easier.

If Dc are just starting a MFL course they should attend any sessions on year abroad and familiarize themselves with what unis might be available and the processes they need to go through and this could be selection processes for popular universities. It’s never too early to start looking at the process as it starts fairly early in y2. Always hit accommodation deadlines if the uni abroad offers accommodation. Don’t do anything “late”. Planning is key and actions on time.

You literally just said what uk unis should do. Have an office dedicated to this. Our DD’s uni had absolutely nothing at all.

It would be incredibly easy for UK universities to solve this problem! European universities are crying out for reliable exchange partner universities in the UK for their students.

@Eazybreezy Are you sure? No one has anything to do with incoming or outgoing students at all? Maybe not Oxford - where is your dc?

My year abroad was 1999 - so a different time but I do recall the university giving uk a detailed “what to do” handbook and my (generally overprotective) parents definitely did not get involved at any point

we didn’t have any accomodation sorted but sorted this on arrival fairly straightforwardly

I think your dd needs to not rely on you so much but OTOH the university sounds useless. With her being the only one going it sounds difficult. There must be some forums out there than can help (for the students themselves more than the mums!)

If the visa doesn’t come through going on a tourist visa initially sounds doable

she will definitely enjoy it when there!

and yes Brexit it just awful

@TizerorFizz no I’m not sure. I’m really, really thick and didn’t check properly

I have linked to a thread of mine from last year, visa & associated costs were about £800-900. Plus flights, accommodation was a finders fee of 1 months rent plus 1 month deposit plus 1 month upfront. Flights home, flights where, buying things there like a duvet, an air fryer between housemates (no oven in the apartment) etc. Fortunately my DD got some Turing funding (each uni allocates differently) and accommodation was cheaper than at home but her friend went to France (Annecy & Paris) and it was the opposite.

@Eazybreezy I guess you aren’t at uni with dd and know what talks were arranged even if you did look at the web site for dc? Does everyone just trust what dc say? What uni is this so more of us could check?

Thanks for those who have posted about costs. I figured flights would be a bit but luckily we live close to London so can get EasyJet cheaply (in fact most European flights are cheaper than train costs to the uni in the UK!) but I hadn’t factored in buying additional things like bedding etc when of course I should have! I think she is keen on Paris so that will be expensive rent….but it’s hardly cheap in the UK so not sure it’ll be loads more? thanks for the heads up.

@socasuallycruelinthenameofbeinghonest Like many London students, living further out and commuting is cheaper. Central Paris, like London isn’t for most students unless wealthy. Check what university says about incoming students.

Yes, ML students have to grow up very quickly! Many years ago I went to Uni in France. My UK Uni had, roughly, a 5 mins meeting with us before we went. " Here is a list of Unis. Go, register with the Police, register with the Uni, find some where to live, come back. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.....Incidentally , and I know this sounds cruel, but do not seek out other British students to live with etc. Some of my fellow students did this and it meant they spoke a lot less French than those who didn't. The 3 months to Xmas will be very hard, very lonely but after that much easier and language skills much better than those who lived with UK students.

@Fordian that is a very useful tip - don't risk overstaying - DD is planning she will have to go out to Italy on a tourist visa and then head back - if study visa comes through in time that is a bonus.

Thanks to others for their experiences of finding accommodation - I'm passing them on to DD.

Somewhat comforting others have had hugely challenging times. A collective sense of solidarity...DD I feel could have done more to focus on this but her tutors have been incredibly hands off - lots of gesticulating hand movements saying yes the bureaucracy is difficult isn't it!!

Collected DD from Uni today and just today she received letter from her Uni confirming she is a student which she can upload to UniversItaly portal to confirm she needs to spend a year overseas. Plus another letter from the Uni confirming her Italian is the equivalent of B2 - not that is worth the paper it is written on in terms of the Italian bureaucratic requirements!

@ElizaMulvil My DD had a specific talk and so did parents on an open day! Even I knew what was likely to happen. I’ll name the university - Bristol. Obviously it was pre Brexit but there was lots of info and DD did a semester in 2 countries. No good taking 3 months to get used to country 1. She’d be leaving it in 4 weeks! The planning needed to move to country 2 must be horrendous now.

In Italy it can be difficult to live with Italians. They mostly live at home. The student digs are often for internationals. You have to take what you find really.

I do realise it was a comparative breeze pre Brexit but DD also looked at what other students advised and there was a useful web site which no longer seems to exist now there’s a huge need for it! Plus any student can look at advice from any university. It doesn’t have to be their own.

As someone who works in this field, I would like to offer some insight into why parents sometimes feel that universities don't do enough.

Firstly, we're not travel agents.

Secondly we're usually very small teams.

Thirdly your children are adults and need to (and usually benefit hugely from) learning to be independent.

Finally, I bet your bottom dollar that the information is there if your child looks for it. Many times we've had a complaint from a parent saying we haven't given the necessary information, when we have a wealth of advice online and in handbooks, run a series of talks throughout the year, and are available to speak to students on a 1-1 basis if they contact us. University students don't seem to be able to cope with or absorb the level of info you need to prepare for a year abroad. We are constantly trying to find ways to make it more accessible/straightforward for them, but at the end of the day, there is a lot to digest, as there would be for anyone going to live in another country for the best part of a year. All of this is good preparation for life beyond university and help is there if they ask for it.

The one thing we are not legally able to do is give immigration advice, and we don't arrange accommodation for students because as I said at the start, we're not travel agents. But we do care, we bust our asses trying to help students as best we can, and student experience is always our top priority.

@whyschoolwhy I can say my DD did find the info and attended talks and I have been surprised at others struggling to find info from their universities or via signposted sources. I accept Oxford seems poor!!

Also students who can sort all this out are very employable!

Thirdly your children are adults and need to (and usually benefit hugely from) learning to be independent.

Also students who can sort all this out are very employable!

Both these statements are very true and important. I worked in HE around the time 'top-up fees' (as they then were) became a thing, and it was clear that there was an immediate impact in terms of academic staff starting to be contacted by parents wanting to sort out both academic and administrative issues on behalf of their (adult) dc. It hadn't been a thing before, and suddenly it really really was. Obviously it was a pain for staff, not least because we were not actually allowed to discuss these matters with third parties (which is what parents are, in this context), but I think it also really infantilised students and deprived them of the experience of learning how to sort out problems, snafus and queries as independent adults.

My own youngest dc is currently doing her undergrad degree in an EU country (dual national passport holder) and that was a very very steep learning curve on all fronts for an 18yo, sorting out rent, bills, health insurance, matriculation, registering for courses and exam protocols, all in a language that she wasn't fully fluent in. She's currently also about to go on a semester 'abroad' in a different, formerly Soviet EU country, which is another whole level of bureaucracy on top of what she's already had to deal with.

It's definitely had its moments of panic and challenge, but I keep reminding her that after this pretty much nothing will faze her - she could literally move to the other side of the world and go, 'yeah, this is all a bit of a pain, but nothing I haven't done before'. And it will make a great conversation opener in any subsequent job interview: 'Yes, I moved to Portugal/Germany/Lithuania/Poland at the age of 18/19/20, here are some things I learned the silly way, but I made it work and learned a lot and gained confidence in the process.'

DD also had pretty good advice from her uni - Bristol again. It helped as her personal tutor was also the study abroad lead tutor.
She is coming to the end of a telly amazing year. Getting her visa was most problematic as she travelled to the Austrian embassy in London to find that uni had given her the wrong form and she wasn’t allowed to fill one out there and then. So she ended up applying once abroad.
Cost wise it’s been a much cheaper year although due to brexit she’s not been able to work like she did in the uk.
We were fortunate because the uni had student housing and some was aimed specifically for international students. They have packages providing bedding, pans etc.
I would 100% encourage all to look at doing a study year abroad. DDs experiences have set her up for life.