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Higher education

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

Original poster

Uni starters 2025/26 all welcome

576 replies

NCTDN · 07/09/2025 08:54

Following on from a year 13 support thread, thought this might be nice to ease us into their new chapters. We had a lovely one for my older DC so created this to help us navigate everything!

OP posts:
beeny · 07/09/2025 09:00

Great idea, daughter going to Newcastle Uni to do Law.

unsurewhattodoaboutit · 07/09/2025 09:01

Hi daughter going to Sheffield Hallam to study nursing

PennywisePoundFoolish · 07/09/2025 09:02

Thanks for the new thread

Moving in going well so far for DS2. Just a few more bits to buy. Trying not to think about leaving him yet

caringcarer · 07/09/2025 09:07

Foster son going to Worcester to study Sport (cricket). He collects his key for halls on 13th so rushing around buying him towels and saucepans ATM.

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 07/09/2025 09:46

Thank you @NCTDN for the new thread - I've welcomed the support from the Y13 threads and it will be great to have the same in future from posters old and new. DC1 is going to Oxford to study Modern Languages and Linguistics and doesn't start until early October so neither of us is particularly prepared yet.

Changed18 · 07/09/2025 09:48

Thanks for starting @NCTDN! DS off to Sheffield University to study physics.

mumonthehill · 07/09/2025 10:15

Good luck to all starting!!!

jamimmi · 07/09/2025 12:20

Thank you Dd off to lancaster at the end of the month for Biochemistry.

Tinytigertail · 07/09/2025 12:44

DD of to Cardiff to study Journalism. We're moving her up on the 18th. She had a gap year and is much more ready than she would have been this time last year.

sproutsandparsnips · 07/09/2025 13:12

DS also going to Cardiff to study pharmacology. He is also going on 18th! He’s a little bit clueless at times so I’m a bit concerned…..

Ineedcoffeenow · 07/09/2025 13:25

Can j join? We dropped DD off yesterday. She’s going to Edinburgh Napier. I managed to not cry as we were leaving, but had a few tears on the way back. It’s very strange for her room to be empty.

Having said that, she’s only 1.5 hours away so it could be a lot harder. She’s going to be coming home most weeks for a while to have driving lessons so we’ll be easing into it.

turkeyboots · 07/09/2025 13:38

DD moves into halls tomorrow! I'm increasingly concerned if everything will fit in the car. Tomorrow morning is going to be stressful.

piscofrisco · 07/09/2025 13:41

DD going to Bristol to do psychology. She goes on Saturday and whilst I’m very excited for her I’m already (privately) in bits. We lost my lovely Dad a month ago and his funeral was just last week and it feels a lot at the moment.
We have all her bits and bobs just about and will start packing this afternoon.

Ineedcoffeenow · 07/09/2025 13:43

@turkeyboots I also didn’t think we’d get everything in. Mountains of pillows and cushions! I was amazed that we managed it, but the car was absolutely full and everything packed around people

Ineedcoffeenow · 07/09/2025 13:44

@piscofrisco so sorry to hear about your dad. It must be making everything else so much more difficult.

piscofrisco · 07/09/2025 13:49

Thankyou. I just feel very flat so it’s hard to summon the energy to pack (we are also moving house in two weeks to make matters worse). And I will miss her terribly on top of already missing my Dad so I’m not sure how well I will cope when I leave her. But she is excited (and a bit nervous) and I’m excited for her. She will love it I hope.

Original poster
NCTDN · 07/09/2025 14:07

piscofrisco · 07/09/2025 13:41

DD going to Bristol to do psychology. She goes on Saturday and whilst I’m very excited for her I’m already (privately) in bits. We lost my lovely Dad a month ago and his funeral was just last week and it feels a lot at the moment.
We have all her bits and bobs just about and will start packing this afternoon.

DD is going into her 4th year at Bristol and loves the place.

OP posts:
SweetChilliGirl · 07/09/2025 15:29

My DD is also off to Bristol and moving into her halls next Saturday. She'll be studying Economics and Politics. I'm going to miss her terribly.

I'm so sorry, piscofrisco.

Ineedcoffeenow · 07/09/2025 15:39

How do you deal with DC’s being unhappy? DD moved in yesterday, but she’s texted to say that she’s in her room on her own as the other three have gone out without her (they already know each other, which is really bad luck.) It makes me just want to swoop in and bring her home (which obviously I won’t do/indicate to her). I’ve tried to jolly her along and suggested she goes for a walk, but I feel awful for her. Hopefully she’ll make friends once the classes start. There’s a lot of group work so I hope they will make friendships from it. But this is hard!

Tinytigertail · 07/09/2025 16:20

sproutsandparsnips · 07/09/2025 13:12

DS also going to Cardiff to study pharmacology. He is also going on 18th! He’s a little bit clueless at times so I’m a bit concerned…..

What halls did he get? DD in Taly Court

Teenageneerdowell · 07/09/2025 16:28

Ineedcoffeenow · 07/09/2025 15:39

How do you deal with DC’s being unhappy? DD moved in yesterday, but she’s texted to say that she’s in her room on her own as the other three have gone out without her (they already know each other, which is really bad luck.) It makes me just want to swoop in and bring her home (which obviously I won’t do/indicate to her). I’ve tried to jolly her along and suggested she goes for a walk, but I feel awful for her. Hopefully she’ll make friends once the classes start. There’s a lot of group work so I hope they will make friendships from it. But this is hard!

It is really difficult. I would encourage your dd to try to meet as many people as possible in the first few weeks- join clubs/ societies, any hall socials. I remember saying to my dd that it might be tough to begin with, and it gets easier once fresher's week is over and teaching begins.

piscofrisco · 07/09/2025 16:32

SweetChilliGirl · 07/09/2025 15:29

My DD is also off to Bristol and moving into her halls next Saturday. She'll be studying Economics and Politics. I'm going to miss her terribly.

I'm so sorry, piscofrisco.

Thankyou x
what halls is she in? Mine is in Churchill, north village

Ineedcoffeenow · 07/09/2025 16:42

Teenageneerdowell · 07/09/2025 16:28

It is really difficult. I would encourage your dd to try to meet as many people as possible in the first few weeks- join clubs/ societies, any hall socials. I remember saying to my dd that it might be tough to begin with, and it gets easier once fresher's week is over and teaching begins.

Show quote history

Yeh, I hope she’ll find friends when they start classes—her degree involves lots of group work so that should help. I just spoke to her and she’s organised a meet up with some other film students for tomorrow, which is great to hear. She’s quite a shy person so it’s quite brave of her to take the initiative.

ThisIsHowWeDoItThisIsHowWeDoIt · 07/09/2025 16:43

My oldest has just finished at Newcastle and my youngest is going to Aberystwyth.

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 07/09/2025 16:53

@piscofrisco so sorry to hear about your Dad. Transition to university at any time is tricky, but it must be extra hard for you both.