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Kingston University
Kingston University
Kingston upon Thames

My son was expelled from uni

My son was expelled from uni due to lack of interest. He doesn't want to go to uni. I don't understand why. We are from Asian background and not having a degree is a big deal. He doesn't do anything keeps playing games all day. No work no nothing.
University is not for everyone, particularly with the present state of the British university system I can see many, many reasons why people may not be inclined to take up the challenge. Interest is a big problem - for the cost of a degree in the UK, if you have no interest then for the love of god DO NOT go. Then again, many students loose interest for one reason or another - alot of universities aren't doing students any favours by still having the majority of teaching conducted in hybrid Pandemic-style fashion... Students are getting ripped off and academic standards are dropping left right and centre!

Now, one can still get a degree or equivalent through other means, or even study abroad. But if your son doesn't know what to study then again what's the point? Much better to get some work experience. And if he doesn't want to engage in that... well then I wish him all the best of luck in life but he's going to fall short very quickly if keeps idle for more than a few years.
Kingston University
Kingston University
Kingston upon Thames
expleed? sounds painful.

If he's in the first year my advice would be for him to wait to find a course which he is interested in as every person gets just one chance to do a 3 year bachelors course (with one extra year I believe) and the worse case scenario is taking out student loans for a partial or full degree worked for under minimum effort which does not get used later on.
(edited 9 months ago)
As another Asian, a degree isn't necessarily everything.

The end goal is that your son would excel and do really well in his career, you don't need a degree to do this. Many of my classmates who did not pursue a degree and did manage to become successful working in banks, social care and jobs in a variety of sectors.

Try speaking to your son about his interests and what he wants to do in his life, he may not be ready for university yet or perhaps he wants to pursue a different degree. He could try taking a Gap year before returning to education if wants to or he could try looking into an apprenticeship or working a job in a field that he is interested in.

Try taking him to different education/ career events that may spark his interest and be stricter in regards to his gaming activity - limiting him from playing too much.
Reply 4
Original post by Parentuk
My son was expelled from uni due to lack of interest. He doesn't want to go to uni. I don't understand why. We are from Asian background and not having a degree is a big deal. He doesn't do anything keeps playing games all day. No work no nothing.


Its ok for him not to go to uni. Lots of people tend to do well without a degree. But its the not working which is the issue now. Hes an adult now and he cant sponge off you forever. I would understand if he was actively looking for work and not getting anywhere, then thats different. At least he would be trying. But not doing anything at all but to play games, I would be saying something. I certainly would not be funding him, he has to earn it.
Is he claiming benefits? if he is he will need to show them hes actively seeking work.
My brothers are in the same situation. Although they do go uni, its more like for the sake of our family rather than interest. They are soo lazy anc just play games everyday. I've told them that they need to start working or getting some sorta experience or atleast volunteering if they want to get a job after uni. When I tell them, they get ****ed. Honestly nowadays most boys are like that, all they want to do is just play games 24/7. They need to be shown what the real world looks like. My brothers are stuck in a bubble until after uni, they will soon realise they aren't babies anymore and someone needs to pay bills. They literally don't do anything at all, they just wake play games and sleep, then repeat. Don't know how to socialise with people at all. Can't take a proper phone call, or fill in anymore forms without my support, they are too lazy to even make food and eat. Honestly, i told my parents that they should have kicked them out so they would know how life actually works.
Reply 6
Original post by Parentuk
My son was expelled from uni due to lack of interest. He doesn't want to go to uni. I don't understand why. We are from Asian background and not having a degree is a big deal. He doesn't do anything keeps playing games all day. No work no nothing.

I would give him 3 options and tell him he has to pick one or he's out. Either find a job, get an apprenticeship or find a uni course that he has to see all the way through.
Reply 7
Original post by Ghostlady
Its ok for him not to go to uni. Lots of people tend to do well without a degree. But its the not working which is the issue now. Hes an adult now and he cant sponge off you forever. I would understand if he was actively looking for work and not getting anywhere, then thats different. At least he would be trying. But not doing anything at all but to play games, I would be saying something. I certainly would not be funding him, he has to earn it.
Is he claiming benefits? if he is he will need to show them hes actively seeking work.

He asked us how to claim benefits!! Which tells me he doesn't want to do anything. I his school days one teacher told us he may have asperges syndrome. Could that be the reason
(edited 8 months ago)
Reply 8
Original post by Anonymous
As another Asian, a degree isn't necessarily everything.

The end goal is that your son would excel and do really well in his career, you don't need a degree to do this. Many of my classmates who did not pursue a degree and did manage to become successful working in banks, social care and jobs in a variety of sectors.

Try speaking to your son about his interests and what he wants to do in his life, he may not be ready for university yet or perhaps he wants to pursue a different degree. He could try taking a Gap year before returning to education if wants to or he could try looking into an apprenticeship or working a job in a field that he is interested in.

Try taking him to different education/ career events that may spark his interest and be stricter in regards to his gaming activity - limiting him from playing too much.

We have tried to talk to him many times. He just ignores everything we say
Reply 9
Original post by Anonymous
My brothers are in the same situation. Although they do go uni, its more like for the sake of our family rather than interest. They are soo lazy anc just play games everyday. I've told them that they need to start working or getting some sorta experience or atleast volunteering if they want to get a job after uni. When I tell them, they get ****ed. Honestly nowadays most boys are like that, all they want to do is just play games 24/7. They need to be shown what the real world looks like. My brothers are stuck in a bubble until after uni, they will soon realise they aren't babies anymore and someone needs to pay bills. They literally don't do anything at all, they just wake play games and sleep, then repeat. Don't know how to socialise with people at all. Can't take a proper phone call, or fill in anymore forms without my support, they are too lazy to even make food and eat. Honestly, i told my parents that they should have kicked them out so they would know how life actually works.


It's easier said than done to kick out your kids
Original post by PossiblyNotGod
expleed? sounds painful.

Typo in thread title is now fixed. :smile:



OP, my advice would that if you have paid for his games console/equipment - then you take it away. In addition, if he's moved back in with you then I would start charging him rent. He can have a month's notice that he will need to start paying you rent for his room. I'd say £50/week is a very cheap rate to start off with, increase it if you're cooking for him too.

If uni isn't for him then he needs to get used to the real world - quickly.
Original post by Parentuk
He asked us how to claim benefits!! Which tells me he doesn't want to do anything. I his school days one teacher told us he may have asperges syndrome. Could that be the reason

To be fair I would say that claiming benefits (i.e. Jobseekers Allowance/similar) is not necessarily a bad thing - as he will be assigned a work coach and in order to continue receiving the benefit, he will need to demonstrate he has been actively seeking and applying for jobs. For people who have been on benefits more than a set period of time (I think it was either 3 or 6 months) they will also start offering more structured support with specialist CV writing sessions, short term work experience opportunities exclusively available to claimants, and sometimes younger people will also be eligible for training and leadership seminars. I was also once offered an opportunity while on benefits myself to study towards a driving license without having to pay up front for the lessons.

So, claiming Jobseekers Allowance at least (not sure about Universal Credit) may help push him towards getting a job, and help give him to the tools to get one. Generally the DWP are not happy for people to just sit claiming benefits when they aren't entitled to them, and part of the entitlement for JSA at least is to be actively seeking employment.

But agreed that outside of that, there may need to be some management of his expectations relating to the long term picture. Much as many of us would like to spend our time doing what we enjoy, working is a necessity! Encouraging him to move out into a place of his own might actually help with this also, as then he will be responsible for paying his rent/bills, buying his own food etc, and hopefully this will incentivise him to get and keep a job somewhere?
Agree with the two posts immediately above. I would just acknowledge his decision to leave uni as it wasn't right for him, but let him know you can't afford to subsidise him indefinitely whilst he finds his feet.

You might want to encourage his to seek a formal diagnosis with regards to asperger's, but if he is an adult that is his decision to make.
Original post by Parentuk
My son was expelled from uni due to lack of interest. He doesn't want to go to uni. I don't understand why. We are from Asian background and not having a degree is a big deal. He doesn't do anything keeps playing games all day. No work no nothing.


personally, i have experience with people with no motivation, I think its just because they haven't found something that interests him, you need to go to his interests for motivations. Example: you said he likes gaming? perhaps he can be a game developer, or a test gamer (person who gaming companies sends videogames to test them and provide feedback)
Reply 14
Sometimes young people need time to find their way through difficulties and you can afford to lose your way and make a few mistakes at this age. I failed my A levels and took a couple of years to get back on track. My parents were very worried but remained supportive
Original post by Parentuk
He asked us how to claim benefits!! Which tells me he doesn't want to do anything. I his school days one teacher told us he may have asperges syndrome. Could that be the reason


You would need someone professional to diagnose that. Yes help his onto benefits, because then hes got to prove that hes actively seeking work in order to get it. A financial benefit might be the catalyst that makes him start to look for work, and get him out the that gaming rut.

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