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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:
mumsy2471 · 24/09/2025 09:17

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ilovebagpuss · 24/09/2025 11:56

Team Lancaster here, seems like we have been waiting for an eternity! Such a late start when I have friends with DC's who have been away for a week or 2 now.
Not that I am in any rush but my DD feels like she is just in limbo!
Does anyone who has done drop off and room set up have any tips or things they found they were missing? We are set for Sunday early start!
Hope those that have gone are settling in OK.

Kittkats · 24/09/2025 13:21

@ilovebagpuss DD’s bedroom and bathroom didn’t have bins, which surprised us. Also no shelves etc in en-suite so needed a shower caddy for toiletries

Changed18 · 24/09/2025 16:16

DS's room had a bin, but we forgot clothes hangers, @ilovebagpuss. No doubt he will manage without rather than buy some! We took a toilet brush - and there wasn't one - plus toilet and bathroom cleaners/toilet rolls/washing up liquid etc. If you have a drop off time and have a long way to get back so want to leave on time, get there earlier - there was a queue to get into the student village (Sheffield).

jamimmi · 24/09/2025 16:20

ilovebagpuss · 24/09/2025 11:56

Team Lancaster here, seems like we have been waiting for an eternity! Such a late start when I have friends with DC's who have been away for a week or 2 now.
Not that I am in any rush but my DD feels like she is just in limbo!
Does anyone who has done drop off and room set up have any tips or things they found they were missing? We are set for Sunday early start!
Hope those that have gone are settling in OK.

Team lancaster here too, it seems to have been such a long wait, but now all done, fees paid, college fee paid, freshers prep etc. Just need to get in and unpack her. I have a feeling it will be very very busy so ds has been co opted to help as dh can't due to ill health. Might see you in the madness!

Millionsofmonkeys · 24/09/2025 16:30

Lancaster parents; when do we pay accommodation? Anyone know?

WhoGonnaCheckMeBoo · 24/09/2025 18:48

My DD has just started MPharm at UCL. Moving day was awful, I sobbed so hard once I got back to the car! I was only 20 when I had her and it’s only ever been just the 2 of us so leaving her was just awful. It’s a 3.5 hour drive so not exactly round the corner! Today is the first day that I’ve not cried lol

Monstermunchy · 24/09/2025 19:52

Changed18 · 24/09/2025 16:16

DS's room had a bin, but we forgot clothes hangers, @ilovebagpuss. No doubt he will manage without rather than buy some! We took a toilet brush - and there wasn't one - plus toilet and bathroom cleaners/toilet rolls/washing up liquid etc. If you have a drop off time and have a long way to get back so want to leave on time, get there earlier - there was a queue to get into the student village (Sheffield).

Did you drop off on Saturday? Sooo wet!! Hope your yp is settling well. Mine seems happy - so far so good!

unsurewhattodoaboutit · 24/09/2025 20:18

@WhoGonnaCheckMeBooaw bless you. It’s awful isn’t it but well done for all your hard work and effort at such a young age. She’s launched as she should x

WhoGonnaCheckMeBoo · 24/09/2025 20:38

unsurewhattodoaboutit · 24/09/2025 20:18

@WhoGonnaCheckMeBooaw bless you. It’s awful isn’t it but well done for all your hard work and effort at such a young age. She’s launched as she should x

Thank you, that’s very kind…she’s the one who’s done all the hard work and I’m unbelievably proud of her 🩷

jamimmi · 24/09/2025 21:02

@Millionsofmonkeys we got the invoice last week, and have paid . I think some collages only sending out now though. If you go on the payment portal it should be there too. Don't forget they need to pay collage fee too it's £40. Payment I think was 3/4th October so the loans are through. We have paid thanks to very kind grandparents who are footing the first terms accomodation.

Original poster
NCTDN · 24/09/2025 21:22

Monstermunchy · 24/09/2025 19:52

Did you drop off on Saturday? Sooo wet!! Hope your yp is settling well. Mine seems happy - so far so good!

Show quote history

We did the drop off at endcliffe on Saturday. Luckily we were in before the really heavy rain started!

OP posts:
sproutsandparsnips · 24/09/2025 22:18

Lindz555 · 20/09/2025 23:24

My son is in Talybont North. He’s doing Accounting and Finance. He’s a bit of an introvert so I’m hoping he doesn’t lock himself away in his room. It was so hard leaving him today.

Show quote history

DS is in block D.
He likes his flat mates and has socialised in the flat, but only been out with one of them.
what does your DS think of his room?

Monstermunchy · 24/09/2025 22:42

NCTDN · 24/09/2025 21:22

We did the drop off at endcliffe on Saturday. Luckily we were in before the really heavy rain started!

Show quote history

You were lucky! It was hard to get everything from the car without it getting wet through!!

everychildmatters · 24/09/2025 23:52

My eldest goes Sunday - his dad is taking him as we're divorced (not amicably!)
I must have asked him a million times if he is sure he has everything he needs and if there's anything else I can get him!
His 5 yo sister has asked if she can go and stay with him some times because she "doesn't want him to be lonely" but funnily enough he wasn't all that keen on the idea!!!
Good luck everyone ❤️

HippyChickMama · 25/09/2025 15:31

Saturday for us, it’s starting to feel very real but ds is very laid back for now. Everything, other than his clothes and laptop, is already squashed into the car ready to go. Dh will be picking him up again this time next week, as they already had tickets to a gig, so at least if he’s forgotten anything or decides he needs something else, dh can take it to him then. We’re only 40 minutes away by car so I’m sure we’ll see him every few weeks anyway, but 12 year old dd is really going to miss him, she keeps asking him if he’ll be able to play Minecraft with her online while he’s away

llareggub · 25/09/2025 15:37

My son is at Aberystwyth- he’s not returning calls or texts so I’m glued to any Aber related Instagram looking for proof of life. Finally found a photo of him at the Beer Pong social.

mumonthehill · 25/09/2025 16:19

Lovely to hear of all the moving!!! @llareggub west Wales is bathed in sunshine today so hopefully he will be enjoying the sea! Ds flew to New Zealand on Monday and I am already missing him hugely. He seems to have settled in and hopefully living the dream.

MargaretThursday · 25/09/2025 18:05

Ds has been surprisingly talkative over text. That is he has normally replied to questions with one word answers and occasionally longer.
I can't tell how much he's enjoying it though. I hope he is, but it's hard to tell from one word answers.

Changed18 · 25/09/2025 18:22

@MargaretThursday Same here! I think DS is fine... But even if he doesn't love every moment, the main thing is that they are venturing out of their comfort zone, and that has to be a great experience for them.
Even more for the NZ crew, @mumonthehill! What an adventure!

Original poster
NCTDN · 25/09/2025 19:12

llareggub · 25/09/2025 15:37

My son is at Aberystwyth- he’s not returning calls or texts so I’m glued to any Aber related Instagram looking for proof of life. Finally found a photo of him at the Beer Pong social.

Haha I have to admit I’ve been looking for any photos on insta too!

OP posts:
Lindz555 · 25/09/2025 23:24

sproutsandparsnips · 24/09/2025 22:18

DS is in block D.
He likes his flat mates and has socialised in the flat, but only been out with one of them.
what does your DS think of his room?

Show quote history

His room is actually quite nice. Clean and plenty of storage. He seems to have settled in well. He even spent an hour talking to the cleaner yesterday 😁

AliMonkey · 26/09/2025 15:30

Just joining this thread as really need some support! DS has extreme social anxiety so it was always going to be difficult. We dropped him Sunday, he met a school friend on Monday and Tuesday (think just involved going to welcome talk then hanging out plus trip to McDonalds and Tesco). But he's not left his room since Tuesday evening. He's too scared to talk to his flatmates, so won't cook (or even heat up a ready meal) in the kitchen so as far as I can tell has existed on biscuits, chocolate, crisps and a loaf of bread. He was supposed to go to intro lectures / meet tutor sessions and has been too anxious to go. I've spoken to student support who were lovely, but there's a limit to what they can do if he's not willing or able to talk to them. He has at least been responding to some texts with more than one-word answers, but every time it stays unread for a few hours I worry even more (wouldn't if I could see he was somewhere other than his flat, indeed I'd welcome a non-response because he was too busy enjoying himself).

At the moment, I'm thinking of driving down to see him tomorrow - I can at least make sure he eats a proper meal and give him a hug! - but am worried he might insist I bring him home, so don't know whether it's a bad idea. What do others think?

simplesimoneatspie · 26/09/2025 15:45

AliMonkey · 26/09/2025 15:30

Just joining this thread as really need some support! DS has extreme social anxiety so it was always going to be difficult. We dropped him Sunday, he met a school friend on Monday and Tuesday (think just involved going to welcome talk then hanging out plus trip to McDonalds and Tesco). But he's not left his room since Tuesday evening. He's too scared to talk to his flatmates, so won't cook (or even heat up a ready meal) in the kitchen so as far as I can tell has existed on biscuits, chocolate, crisps and a loaf of bread. He was supposed to go to intro lectures / meet tutor sessions and has been too anxious to go. I've spoken to student support who were lovely, but there's a limit to what they can do if he's not willing or able to talk to them. He has at least been responding to some texts with more than one-word answers, but every time it stays unread for a few hours I worry even more (wouldn't if I could see he was somewhere other than his flat, indeed I'd welcome a non-response because he was too busy enjoying himself).

At the moment, I'm thinking of driving down to see him tomorrow - I can at least make sure he eats a proper meal and give him a hug! - but am worried he might insist I bring him home, so don't know whether it's a bad idea. What do others think?

Gosh, it’s tough, isn’t it? If he were mine I would probably drive down and stay for a couple of nights (somewhere in the vicinity) and let him know you’re there with no pressure. Perhaps take him out for a bite to eat?

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