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University – apparently I'm in, and that's all I know!

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Tigerlea
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PostPosted: 17:55 - 06 Jul 2017    Post subject: University – apparently I'm in, and that's all I know! Reply with quote

I just found out this morning I've got an unconditional offer to attend university and finish my degree here in the UK. (Super happy, yay)

Things are different here, and apparently I've missed deadlines to apply for student financing.

And... Well, to be honest, I have no flipping idea what I'm supposed to be doing. I have a start date, beyond that.. no information. Nothing. Yikes! Shocked No schedule, no information on paying tuition, no address..

Was wondering if the BCF community could point me in the right direction? Financing, finding accommodation, and even what to expect? Admissions at my new uni have been pretty useless; it took a month of back-and-forth just to find out I had been accepted, after applying months ago (<- short version)..

The only things I know I do need to do are:
- sort out a new job (after handing my notice in here.. hurrah for 2 month notice periods Rolling Eyes )
- list my room for rent
- find somewhere to live
- sell loads of stuff (I'm keeping the bike)
- expect to become very poor very soon Crying or Very sad


PS ~ I get to fall into the "mature student" category these days. This, in itself, terrifies me. Embarassed

PPS ~ Do I need to tell my insurance company that I'll be a student?!
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Ste
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PostPosted: 18:00 - 06 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes you do need to tell your insurance company about your change of occupation.

No idea about the rest though. Laughing
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Matt B
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PostPosted: 19:15 - 06 Jul 2017    Post subject: Re: University – apparently I'm in, and that's all I know! Reply with quote

Tigerlea wrote:
No schedule, no information on paying tuition, no address.. Admissions at my new uni have been pretty useless...


Sounds about right. I've been through two different Universities with unconditional offers and they were both relatively useless. You may have more luck speaking to the department you have applied for.
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P.
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PostPosted: 19:58 - 06 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Studentroom forum will be best for you.

Where abouts did you get in to? Their uni might be able to advise. I know local ones to me are surprisingly helpful.
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Moo.
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PostPosted: 20:00 - 06 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Being very very poor all adds to the student experience!

Id give Student Financing a ring to see if they can sort anything out, explain your situation and see if they can help. Otherwise they'll expect that you are financing it yourself! If you do get it via student financing you may find yourself short for the first month or so, as they've gotta get their shit together for payments in September..

Im assuming the Uni will have some kind of Studyspace online login that you'll get which will have your timetables etc on... There should be a few days enrolment at the start of uni where they'll tell you all the crap you need to know.

If your struggling to find accomodation (usually house shares at uni) there are always uni groups on facebook etc... where people tend to post spaces etc... Jump on them quick as they tend to fly.
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SophR so good
Trackday Trickster



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PostPosted: 20:55 - 06 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you're going to be in a "university city" like Manchester, Birmingham, Oxford there will be specific estate agents who specialise in student accommodation. I assume you won't want to be in halls of residence with the pissed 18 year olds. Mature student halls exist in some places but are given to people with kids preferentially.

You'll pick your units and get lecture times etc during freshers week, and they'll show you where everything is then too.

Finance.... No clue as I imagine the process is different for mature students - I presume you are eligible for finance and don't just owe them 9 grand in 2 months....
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M.C
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PostPosted: 21:12 - 06 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

What deadline? I applied directly to the uni in the first week of the course (to get on the course (f**k UCAS)), got accepted for student finance. I remember having a mini breakdown filling out the (online) form though.
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Tigerlea
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PostPosted: 11:07 - 07 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Paddy. wrote:
Where abouts did you get in to? Their uni might be able to advise. I know local ones to me are surprisingly helpful.


Gloucestershire. So not a uni city, as it's in Cheltenham, which is turning out to be a very expensive place. Shocked

Thanks for the all the suggestions... I'll call up student finance and see what do, as I definitely cannot afford tuition out of my own pocket.


My concern with a lot of the information is that, apparently, the Uni sent me two offer letters (by email) which never actually came through. In the end the admissions officer had to email me with an attached PDF, which was absolutely fine.

So either it was a load of bollocks, or somehow Gmail is blocking their automatic email system, so I'm worried about any further contact through there which might not come through. Confused

Right, on the list now:
[ ] contact insurers, let them know change of situation; mortgage will already know
[ ] call student finance; get money
[ ] find accomodation; try for agents, but hopefully not end up in house share full of 18-20 yos..



I put my notice in at work yesterday. They're going to keep me for as long as possible, which is a bonus to me cash-wise, not so much time-wise.. It's easy to move, right? Can be done in a weekend? Laughing
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Rogerborg
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PostPosted: 13:19 - 07 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=sex+for+accomodation

Just sayin'.
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M.C
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PostPosted: 18:56 - 07 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

BTW I think you've got the student finance deadline backwards: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-student-finance/when

You can apply up to 9 months after the start of the academic year for your course.

So if you start in September you'd have until the following May to apply, but IIRC they start chasing you for fees towards the end of the first term (approaching Christmas). We had people starting a month into the course. Obviously get it sorted as they can be quite aggressive in pursuing fees.

Move into halls if you want the full uni 'experience' Smile
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Ribenapigeon
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PostPosted: 08:06 - 08 Jul 2017    Post subject: Re: University – apparently I'm in, and that's all I know! Reply with quote

Tigerlea wrote:
I just found out this morning I've got an unconditional offer to attend university and finish my degree here in the UK. (Super happy, yay)

Things are different here, and apparently I've missed deadlines to apply for student financing.



Where you're going wrong is calling University "University". If you pitch up at the refectory to hang out with the kids and start talking like that they're going to laugh at the old fogey who doesn't know it's called "Uni" these days. Also you're going to have to practice talking rapidly, loudly in a high pitched voice at a constant rate and punctuating sentences with either "Oh my god" or even "O!... M!.... G!".

Hope that helps.
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Lord Percy
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PostPosted: 05:31 - 09 Jul 2017    Post subject: Re: University – apparently I'm in, and that's all I know! Reply with quote

Tigerlea wrote:

PS ~ I get to fall into the "mature student" category these days


There's a user on here called mpd72 who will tell you constantly that you're a terrible human being for doing such a thing.

I just endured 4 years of it. Now it's your turn Very Happy Laughing
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Lord Percy
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PostPosted: 05:49 - 09 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

How old of a mature student will you be? I started at 24 and was fine mixing in with the others. My class had a few people older than me and they fitted in fine as well.

Only thing I'll say is that it definitely does grate a bit in the later years, or at least it did in my case. I finally finished just a month or so ago and was so glad to see the end of it. Just wanted to be done and be an 'adult' again. Worth it in the long run either way though.

What course are you doing?

For accommodation, you can normally live on campus in first year and make some chums. As a mature student your uni accommodation service might be sensible enough to put you in a flat with people you'll get on with, probably other mature students.

For finding another job, think seriously about your academic commitments and settle into that first. If you can survive off student loans, do it. Personally I did a physics degree and there was absolutely no way I'd have been able to do any kind of employment around all my lectures and assignments. I did at one point apply for some weekend work at Morrisons, but they rejected me and in hindsight I'm quite glad of that.

For 'being poor', it really isn't as bad as it seems. I had a good enough life, lived as cheap as I could (but still wasted money a little bit, mainly on lazy food options like takeaways when I could have just cooked for myself) but still afforded to travel India for two months over one summer, then China the following summer, simply by sensible budgeting, and that was entirely on student loans with no extra source of income. So the thing about being a poor student just isn't true unless you're an absolute moron with your spending.

Enjoy!
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M.C
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PostPosted: 13:49 - 09 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lord Percy wrote:
I did at one point apply for some weekend work at Morrisons, but they rejected me and in hindsight I'm quite glad of that.

Shocked Laughing Was there a reason? FWIW the 'Ted' method doesn't work in real life: https://youtu.be/TjMz77B735s?t=20s

I agree about the money thing, live within your means and you'll be fine. Probably helps when you're young and not used to an income though Smile There were mature students on my degree course, I don't think it's really an issue, it's not like going back to college where you look like a bit of a paedo.
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Tigerlea
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PostPosted: 15:18 - 21 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lord Percy wrote:
How old of a mature student will you be? I started at 24 and was fine mixing in with the others. My class had a few people older than me and they fitted in fine as well.

...

What course are you doing?

For accommodation, ...

For finding another job, ...

For 'being poor', it really isn't as bad as it seems. ...


Hey, thanks! That's incredibly helpful.

Yeaaaah.. I'm a little older than you are now. Which is one of the reasons I'm thinking that I'd actually hate living on campus, as I actually care about how I do at 'Uni' and my goal is not to get as drunk as I can with strangers... That's what summer BCF BBQs are for, right? Laughing

I found out yesterday about the whole 'apply up to 9 months' thing. I'm one of those adults who somehow has a mortgage, so I'll be renting out my place while I'm away. I'm thinking that might end up like-for-like for rent, so all I'd have to cover on top is bills, food, and travel expenses. While looking into the loans I found out about the maintenance loans. Figure it'd actually be a good idea to apply for both and get what I can out of those. I qualify for 'home student' status, so I shouldn't have any problems.

I'll be studying for a BSc in Web Technologies. I know there's an internship required at one point so I'm trying to figure out if I can just skip that as I've 10 years experience in the industry....

I'm just a bit anxious, tbh. I don't know what the hell I was thinking when I applied.


Rogerborg wrote:
...


..... Tempting. But.. I think I'll pass on the risk of pregnancy, STIs and early death, cheers!
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Alpineandy
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PostPosted: 16:35 - 21 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tigerlea wrote:
Rogerborg wrote:
...

..... Tempting. But.. I think I'll pass on the risk of pregnancy, STIs and early death, cheers!

You could learn about contraception (safe sex) and do some self defence classes..... Wink
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P.
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PostPosted: 17:08 - 21 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Alpineandy wrote:
Tigerlea wrote:

..... Tempting. But.. I think I'll pass on the risk of pregnancy, STIs and early death, cheers!

You could learn about contraception (safe sex) and do some self defence classes..... Wink


Or, don't worry, come to Kent. Wink
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Rogerborg
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PostPosted: 17:52 - 21 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tigerlea wrote:
I'm a little older than you are now [Lord Percy].

I wouldn't bet on it. Percy is living the Scooby Doo life - he's been a teenager forever.
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Tamsin
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PostPosted: 23:02 - 11 Aug 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Being a mature student is good. The lecturers treat you with a bit more respect than the scruffy, drunk 18 year olds Laughing

https://www.gov.uk/apply-online-for-student-finance for student finance application. To get the money at the start of term you needed to have applied in May though, so expect a delay whilst they get their knickers untwisted. Its not a paticuarly arduous application but make sure you get the signature form printed, signed and sent Cool
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Sapolsky
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PostPosted: 09:11 - 12 Aug 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

One of the questions I was asked was basically have you lived in the UK for the last 3 years.

Apparently being abroad can be a stumbling block. I used to live abroad (I'm a brit) and my uni said it may mean I couldn't get finance. I've been back for 4 years now though, so I never found out if it was an issue.

I'm 41 and heading back to Uni in Oct Laughing I'll be skipping the majority of Freshers week Shocked

By the way I applied for tuition loan last week and got approved last week. Whether they'll actually have their shit together enough to pay it on time is another matter. I didn't apply for maintenance so can't comment there.
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The999Kid
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PostPosted: 13:04 - 16 Aug 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sapolsky wrote:


I'm 41 ... I'll be skipping the majority of Freshers week Shocked



my advice is check out the freshers fair, lots of free food vouchers and tips from existing students for places to eat/study and spend free time. (assuming you are moving for uni and not just going to the local one)
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Sapolsky
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PostPosted: 17:12 - 16 Aug 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

The999Kid wrote:
Sapolsky wrote:


I'm 41 ... I'll be skipping the majority of Freshers week Shocked



my advice is check out the freshers fair, lots of free food vouchers and tips from existing students for places to eat/study and spend free time. (assuming you are moving for uni and not just going to the local one)


I'm heading to my local one, I'm fairly lucky in that my local one is a decent Uni (Lancaster). However, I'm relatively new to the area, so tips are always welcome and free is always good Wink
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Tigerlea
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PostPosted: 12:33 - 17 Aug 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sapolsky wrote:
By the way I applied for tuition loan last week and got approved last week. Whether they'll actually have their shit together enough to pay it on time is another matter. I didn't apply for maintenance so can't comment there.


I've just heard student loans are going up to 6.1% interest starting in October... No thanks.

So.. I need moneys... Rogerborg, you had a great suggestion Laughing


I'm flat hunting this weekend, and finally checking out the campus. By the sounds of it the town closes at the weekends as estate agents are only open until 1 on a Saturday, and everything appears shut on a Sunday!! I'll be sure to bring my hiking boots.. At least I'll get a holiday out of this hassle.
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SophR so good
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PostPosted: 14:01 - 17 Aug 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Student loans are probably still the best bet seeing as they're not a real loan. It's more of a graduate tax, it doesn't prevent you getting other loans, you don't need to pay it all back and if you're not earning much you don't pay it at all.
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Sapolsky
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PostPosted: 18:40 - 17 Aug 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

SophR so good wrote:
Student loans are probably still the best bet seeing as they're not a real loan. It's more of a graduate tax, it doesn't prevent you getting other loans, you don't need to pay it all back and if you're not earning much you don't pay it at all.


This.

Ultimately I'm trying to view it as an extra 9% tax on anything I earn above 23k (subject to change...) and I'm basically going to ignore the actual figure I "owe" because with all of the interest the likelihood of it ever going away is pretty minimal.

If I can't get a job it doesn't get paid
If I can only find a shit job, it doesn't get paid
If I die it doesn't get paid
If I get hit by a bus and can't work ever again, it doesn't get paid
It doesn't affect your credit score
It doesn't get passed on to your kids
It doesn't come out of your estate

They should really just rename it as a tax like SophR said and get rid of this stigma of "zomg debt". Hell, if they just slapped a lower tax (perhaps 3%?) on every graduate who earns above x amount, think of the extra money they'd rake in from the high-flyers (this one follows you world-wide and is adjusted for currency). It would no doubt piss the high flyers off though since they are already forking over 50%. If I was having to hand over more than half of my salary to mr taxman I just wouldn't bother.
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