University Halls

split_second

i would say do what my friend did, go home at weekends. he wasnt one for clubs and drunkenness, plus he had his life at uni and also his p/t job with us lot and seeing his family

thequant

No-one has pointed this out yet, but contract for halls are not your usual tenancy contracts, but licence agreements. Anyone know if this will make a difference for the OP.

sonastin

1) read everything that the Uni gave you when you started. Look for anything that might be a loophole which gets you out of there. But face the fact that there is unlikely to be an easy answer. Having signed up to taking the room, you might have to pay for it until you find someone else to take it on. Thats one of those bits of growing up that sucks but you have to get used to it.

2) while to some extent I agree with the "stick it out, you've only just started" brigade, student living isn't for everyone. I would have had a much more informative, enlightening, educational and moreover enjoyable experience had I stayed in my home town, lived with my parents and continued to enjoy the social life I had with the friends I made during my year's work experience prior to starting uni. Instead, I stuck it out and existed for 3 years until I had the piece of paper which said I could return to my old job as a graduate (on twice the pay- it was 3 painful years but worth it!).

I know some people who moved home in second or even 3rd year. I had a housemate who was only in uni on 2 consecutive days each week one semester, so she only stayed with us one night per week (but paid full rent). She had a p/t job at home for the rest of the week so could afford the rent.

If home is really where the heart is and you're going to get much more out of your uni experience by being grown up about accepting that, then that is the choice you must make. If the rent+train fare is the cost of that decision, you have to decide if it is a price worth paying. But make sure that is really the case. If this is just a bout of homesickness, you should try to stick it out a bit longer as homesickness does pass. Give the student lifestyle a real shot, not just a few weeks but if it really isn't for you, don't force yourself to live through it to the extent that your studies are suffering.


Oh, and if it is being around students that is the problem, look for outside interests that aren't student clubs. Try taking up a hobby in your university town which isn't related to the Uni and see if that helps you feel better about living there. Interacting with non-students for some of your week can make life feel more normal!

Flibsey

poppysarah wrote: »

I'm still in touch with people that I met on my first day at uni halls.
I'll be seeing one in a couple of hours before she flies out to Oz again.


Hated the sheer noise of it myself at first. But I think I have Misophonia

I'm married to the older brother of one of my best friends who I met in halls.... my friend brought his brother to a party. I fell head over heels! I'm also still in close contact with everyone from my first year in halls... and my next door neighbour back then is now my sister in law.

Brallaqueen

thequant wrote: »

No-one has pointed this out yet, but contract for halls are not your usual tenancy contracts, but licence agreements. Anyone know if this will make a difference for the OP.

Licences are still for a fixed term. Licences actually grant the university more rights with regard to eviction - 28 day notice period for rent arrears, anti social behaviour etc see direct.gov

"If your university runs the accommodation

If the university or college is your landlord, your status will most likely be as ‘an occupier with basic protection’.
This means that the college or university has to give you the minimum notice required and get a court order if it wants to evict you."

However, being primarily education institutions, Universities in general are a bit more lenient with regards to contractual obligations and much more willing to help find a replacement student, they also usually have intakes throughout the year so more chance of a student wanting to take the room.

dawyldthing

I just saw the link on facebook and it made me think of this thread:

http://www.nus.org.uk/en/Advice/Freshers-and-Settling-In/Freshers-and-Settling-In-Listing/Fresher-advice-from-the-Hollyoaks-cast-/

Axled

Keep advertising as there are bound to be late starters or people not getting on with housemates desperate for a place in halls. I would try to stick with it though if you can. University courses tend to only be a few hours a week and so you don't really get the chance to bond with your course mates, so a large of people tend to socialise with housemates instead.

Unless you can find someone else to fill your place though I don't think you have much choice.
Good luck

bclark

I went through something similar in my first year at Uni and after a couple of weeks I told my parents I was coming home. I had a long term girlfriend at home etc so this was making me even more homesick.

In the end I stuck it out and had the time of my life, I wouldn’t have wanted it any different. Some people take longer to adapt to changes in life and you might just be one of them.