High cost of train travel apparently influencing peoples choice of university

[cactustwirly]

My bold- my university does actually offer this. It's £30 B&B per room per night and does get a reasonable uptake. Also gives folk a taste of what they'll be living in for their first year!

They then get to campus on a free bus service put on (contracted out to First at the minute).

Mine doesn't offer anything like this, but then again all the decent accomodation is contracted out to private companies.

 

[JamesT]

Looking at Oxford http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/open-days-and-visits/planning-your-open-day-visit, at least some of the colleges offer accommodation for visitors on Open Days coming from further than can be done in a daytrip and often for free. Though with various restrictions on who it's available for. Some of the colleges are also offering subsidised travel for the open days. If they weren't doing that they'd be renting the rooms out as B&B so it does cost them potential income.

For interviews at Oxford, accommodation and meals have always been free but travel costs had to be covered by the candidate. I see that they have now started covering travel expenses for applicants from disadvantage backgrounds. http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2018-11-22-oxford-pay-interview-travel-expenses-low-income-students

Do other universities routinely do interviews as part of their admissions process? It does seem to be a very Oxbridge thing.

 

[telstarbox]

In 2007 I had two interviews for my six choices (for engineering courses). The other four made offers based on your UCAS application only, although I think in most cases they also invited you to an "offer open day" where you could see the labs, meet the current students etc.

 

[Journeyman]

Indeed.

It’s also an excellent way to access degree level study for people who for whatever reason failed to get the “traditional” GCSE/A level qualifications needed to start at 18.

I know someone from precisely this background who studied an OU degree over six years during his mid-late twenties while working and has now greatly improved his earnings and future prospects.

But agreed, it’s not really a relevant comparator to a “conventional” uni for those who are intending to go in at 18.

Absolutely, and that was never the intention. It exists to provide a flexible means for mainly older people with responsibilities to better themselves.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Absolutely, and that was never the intention. It exists to provide a flexible means for mainly older people with responsibilities to better themselves.

Though with the increased fees putting that market off (they have basically lost the subsidy they used to have), they seem to be repositioning themselves as a cheaper way to a degree for anyone, including younger people. A full time equivalent fee is only around £6000 per year instead of £9000-odd. And you can work full time while doing it over a longer period, as I did (I basically had a module on the go all the time where possible, but only one, which was about 50% time and took about 6 years).

You don't however get the life experiences, and their offering in more practical subjects can understandably be somewhat limited.

 

[Journeyman]

Though with the increased fees putting that market off (they have basically lost the subsidy they used to have), they seem to be repositioning themselves as a cheaper way to a degree for anyone, including younger people. A full time equivalent fee is only around £6000 per year instead of £9000-odd. And you can work full time while doing it over a longer period, as I did (I basically had a module on the go all the time where possible, but only one, which was about 50% time and took about 6 years).

You don't however get the life experiences, and their offering in more practical subjects can understandably be somewhat limited.

Yeah, I'd say there's fairly major disadvantages in that. The biggest one for me is that I'm not always great at getting things done when left entirely to my own devices, and toiling away in isolation means missing out on lots of things that makes university such a great experience. Although I can understand why things have changed. I started uni in the final year before fees came along, and I consider myself lucky to have been able to get through it before everything boiled down to how much it was costing.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Although I can understand why things have changed. I started uni in the final year before fees came along, and I consider myself lucky to have been able to get through it before everything boiled down to how much it was costing.

September 1997 then? Me too. I also was one of the last to get an OU degree on the "old" subsidised fees (I have 2 degrees).

 

[Journeyman]

September 1997 then? Me too. I also was one of the last to get an OU degree on the "old" subsidised fees (I have 2 degrees).

My mistake, second to last year then. I started in 1996. Now you've mentioned it, I remember freshers being fee-paying when I was in my final year.

 

[cactustwirly]

Though with the increased fees putting that market off (they have basically lost the subsidy they used to have), they seem to be repositioning themselves as a cheaper way to a degree for anyone, including younger people. A full time equivalent fee is only around £6000 per year instead of £9000-odd. And you can work full time while doing it over a longer period, as I did (I basically had a module on the go all the time where possible, but only one, which was about 50% time and took about 6 years).

You don't however get the life experiences, and their offering in more practical subjects can understandably be somewhat limited.

But does Student Finance cover the OU?

 

[Bletchleyite]

But does Student Finance cover the OU?

Yes if it's your first degree.

 

[Antman]

Do other universities routinely do interviews as part of their admissions process? It does seem to be a very Oxbridge thing.

I didn't have any other interviews. I also applied to Bristol, Nottingham, Leeds and Lancaster (as my what if I balls up). Only Oxford wanted an interview, because they always do. It's a necessity.

When my son is old enough, I will have retired from PAYE work, so I can guarantee that I'll be filling in these forms (or whatever exists at the time) to make sure he's on the list of 'disadvantaged' (because I'll be retired and no income....). Not because I want to save the money on the tickets, but because I want to give him every advantage in getting in (assuming he's up to it and wants to try to get in). As above, when I applied, my accommodation and board was laid on. I paid for my train ticket as I didn't go to a very rich college (but if the RMT and others (via Momentum crazies) get their way, Oxbridge will be destroyed by then and all their assets seized and the money wasted). So we'll all be at Spunkbridge (apologies to non Viz readers). Or rather we will have left the country and taken our money with us... so it'll be whether Amtrak or similar lay on for the Ivy League...

 

[maire23]

Yes if it's your first degree.

Also if it’s your second if it’s an approved ‘exemption’ subject (STEM or nursing)
I’m doing a Combined STEM (bit like an Open Degree but just STEM subjects- this also covers the Social Sciences, my pathway is Sports Psychology) this is my second undergrad (3rd degree in total as I have an MA from DMU Leicester) and it is fully funded by SFE- tuition fees and maintenance loan.

 

[DuncanS]

I went to university in 1992 never having set foot in the place and having been to the city twice in my life for a combined total of about 5 hours and that was years previously.

Uni open days are a complete waste of time, especially in the modern digital world where an internet of reviews of Unis, halls, courses etc are only a Google away. The only Uni open day I did was the local Uni and that was simply to get an afternoon off school.

Seems to me like the current generation would rather sponge off the Bank of Mum and Dad at home rather than move any distance away. I went to the second furthest away from home University(as was possible) in the country as at 18 it was time to put distance between myself and the family and time to become my own person.

 

[johntea]

I never had any intention whatsoever to go to Uni, yet it felt like all my college did for 2 years was 'encourage' me to apply for Uni rather than work! (I even had a job interview for a full time post during college as a vacancy came up at my old school where I did work experience, the team wanted me but the head teacher hated me so I sadly didn't end up getting the job but it was good experience being thrown into a formal job interview at 16/17!), which brings me to a slightly off topic but related point - it seems most job interviews expect you to sort out travel and potentially accomodation at your own expense although several I went to stated in their policy they would refund some of the costs for unsuccessful candidates!

I'm a huge fan of apprenticeship schemes, where someone can learn on the job and get a bit of cash at the same time rather than a load of debt, I've actually managed several apprentices as part of my teams in the past and they were really hard workers considering how little they got paid! Thankfully opportunities arose to offer several of them full time jobs after their apprenticeship!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I never had any intention whatsoever to go to Uni, yet it felt like all my college did for 2 years was 'encourage' me to apply for Uni rather than work!

This seems to flip-flop. In the late 1990s they were trying to push everyone onto whatever apprenticeships were called back then even though I made it abundantly clear I definitely only wanted the academic path.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

I went to university in 1992 never having set foot in the place and having been to the city twice in my life for a combined total of about 5 hours and that was years previously.

Uni open days are a complete waste of time, especially in the modern digital world where an internet of reviews of Unis, halls, courses etc are only a Google away. The only Uni open day I did was the local Uni and that was simply to get an afternoon off school.

So to be clear, the next time you need to move house and you're deciding which house to move to, you'll make your decision on which house to buy or rent entirely by Googling the location and looking at all the pictures and information about the potential properties online. You'll be happy to either sign a rental contract or sign the contract to purchase your chosen property without having every actually visited it, right?

 

[Jurg]

So to be clear, the next time you need to move house and you're deciding which house to move to, you'll make your decision on which house to buy or rent entirely by Googling the location and looking at all the pictures and information about the potential properties online. You'll be happy to either sign a rental contract or sign the contract to purchase your chosen property without having every actually visited it, right?

Exactly. I applied to 4 universities (19 years ago) based on the prospectuses and information on the courses available to me. When I applied I had an idea in my head of an order of preference based on this information and my knowledge of reputation of institutions, locations etc.

I went to open days for all 4, and they completely turned my preferences around. My original first preference university was up there with the best in published rankings, but the facilities were poor and the course leaders rude and aloof. On the other hand one university I'd originally put in to make up the numbers impressed me in terms of of facilities, environment and location. I had an interview with a lecturer who ended up being my course tutor a few months later, who was interested in me as a prospective student and engaged and asked questions of me.

 

[underbank]

Uni open days are a complete waste of time, especially in the modern digital world where an internet of reviews of Unis, halls, courses etc are only a Google away.

There's no substitute for actually visiting the place and getting a "feel" of it, meeting people, looking at the reality, asking questions, etc.

My son was attracted to leeds based upon their website and google, but absolutely hated the place at Open Day (both the uni and the city) and wouldn't go there no if it was the last uni on Earth.

 

[al78]

I went to university in 1992 never having set foot in the place and having been to the city twice in my life for a combined total of about 5 hours and that was years previously.

Uni open days are a complete waste of time, especially in the modern digital world where an internet of reviews of Unis, halls, courses etc are only a Google away. The only Uni open day I did was the local Uni and that was simply to get an afternoon off school.

Seems to me like the current generation would rather sponge off the Bank of Mum and Dad at home rather than move any distance away. I went to the second furthest away from home University(as was possible) in the country as at 18 it was time to put distance between myself and the family and time to become my own person.

Evidently that university failed to teach you anything about logical and analytical thinking if you are coming out with mindless Daily Mail-like stereotypes like that.

 

[Bletchleyite]

So to be clear, the next time you need to move house and you're deciding which house to move to, you'll make your decision on which house to buy or rent entirely by Googling the location and looking at all the pictures and information about the potential properties online. You'll be happy to either sign a rental contract or sign the contract to purchase your chosen property without having every actually visited it, right?

People certainly do sign rental contracts on that sort of basis, yes. People do also purchase auction properties based on the information pack - watch Homes under the Hammer if you don't believe me.

As a vaguely similar thing, I've purchased a car on the basis of online information and an all-round video, though with a warranty.

Having said that, both are a relatively simple thing, whereas uni is "choosing your life for the next 3 years".

 

[underbank]

"Choice" has been the buzzword for the last decade or two. 50 years ago you went to the nearest primary school and then whatever secondary it fed into - choice didn't come into it. Just the same with doctors and hospitals - again, nearest. Choice just wasn't on the radar. I never went to any school open days (did they even have them?) Last time I needed a specialist hospital consultant appointment, I was offered a "choice" - in reality, it was a choice of 1 because the other 2 options were miles away (literally 2-3 hour journeys), so not really a choice at all, but at least it ticked someone's box. As for Unis, there weren't anywhere near as many unis and each uni didn't offer the same choice of courses nor accommodation. The whole idea was to improve standards by offering choice so "providers" would compete, i.e. those offering a better service would get the punters and therefore the money. In reality, the whole thing, whether education or healthcare remains stuck in a mud of mediocrity where they're just copying each other rather than genuinely offering a better service or new ideas.

 

[DuncanS]

So to be clear, the next time you need to move house and you're deciding which house to move to, you'll make your decision on which house to buy or rent entirely by Googling the location and looking at all the pictures and information about the potential properties online. You'll be happy to either sign a rental contract or sign the contract to purchase your chosen property without having every actually visited it, right?

Thats a totally different situation.

 

[DuncanS]

Evidently that university failed to teach you anything about logical and analytical thinking if you are coming out with mindless Daily Mail-like stereotypes like that.

Oh look another remoaner Gammon has been triggered by someone having a different point of view from them.

Please point out where you think in my post I've come out with anything approaching the point you have made.

 

[DuncanS]

Having said that, both are a relatively simple thing, whereas uni is "choosing your life for the next 3 years".

Unlike some on here I made a decision based on what I wanted to do and how far from home I wanted to go.

Its a temporary phase of life and I had no qualms about moving away and striking out on my own - these people are adults and 18 years old, its time they made their own way in life instead of hanging onto the coat tails of parents and expecting everything to be spoonfed to them.

Anyone that thinks an open day is in anyway a reflection of the actual real experience of University is seriously mistaken. And I say that as someone who ended up running sections of them across a couple of years.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

So to be clear, the next time you need to move house and you're deciding which house to move to, you'll make your decision on which house to buy or rent entirely by Googling the location and looking at all the pictures and information about the potential properties online. You'll be happy to either sign a rental contract or sign the contract to purchase your chosen property without having every actually visited it, right?

Thats a totally different situation.

In what way? In both cases you're choosing somewhere that you are going to be spending potentially several years of your life. So looks pretty similar to me.

 

[apk55]

When I went to university in the late 70s I stayed at home. However I used the train more than most students as I used to commute by train from Timperley to Manchester! However in those days you could get a travel grant.

 

[yorksrob]

Unlike some on here I made a decision based on what I wanted to do and how far from home I wanted to go.

Its a temporary phase of life and I had no qualms about moving away and striking out on my own - these people are adults and 18 years old, its time they made their own way in life instead of hanging onto the coat tails of parents and expecting everything to be spoonfed to them.

Anyone that thinks an open day is in anyway a reflection of the actual real experience of University is seriously mistaken. And I say that as someone who ended up running sections of them across a couple of years.

So did I. But it was still good to see the place before committing !

 

[sprunt]

I had an interview with a lecturer who ended up being my course tutor a few months later, who was interested in me as a prospective student and engaged and asked questions of me.

Yes, this is similar to what I got out of visiting universities (a combination of open days and interviews). I went to look at Nottingham, Sheffield and Newcastle, and while I'd have been happy to live in any of the three places I felt that the people at Nottingham really made me feel welcome, and that they wanted me to go there. The people at the other two didn't do anything wrong, but the Nottingham people just gave me the feeling that I'd be happy there, and I was, to the extent of living in Nottingham for 10 years after I'd finished university.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

WMT is apparently to offer free travel to Worcester for their Open Day.
Looks like it covers WMR/LNWR services.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-48965585

Students can register with the university for a voucher for a free ticket for the next open day in September, which can be used on West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway services

I wonder if the local hotels will be offering free accommodation for those needing to stay overnight.
(No they won't...)

 

[Ianno87]

Having said that, both are a relatively simple thing, whereas uni is "choosing your life for the next 3 years".

In many cases, the skills you gain and the friendships/relationships you form shape a good chunk of the rest of your life. Important to get right.