Calling Univ parents - move in, storage, minors. And what are those cars full of?

Hello everyone,
I'm excited to finally post after lurking around for months. My DD has a confirmed place at Univ for Oct '23. I studied/lived in the UK back in the day so I am familiar with UK uni life (or what it was!) but we live in France and it will be her first time living in the UK. I'd be grateful for any advice on the following for Univ.

1) Storage for international students at Univ
I know that storage varies widely - what is the situation at Univ for international students? We could drive over (with the kitchen sink) but are debating if she should bring the minimum and buy what she needs as and when she needs it. But then I look at videos of students arriving with overflowing cars and wonder if I am missing something? Apart from clothes, stationery and some personal decorations to make it feel like home I'm really not sure what is going into those cars....

2)off campus storage over the summer
Is this relatively easy to organise ie you pay for someone to pick up your things and bring them back at the beginning of term, or do you have to also move all your things and collect them? Does anyone know of a service for this that they recommend?

3) Move in date Freshers 2023
We will probably stay over for a day before/after. I'm trying to reserve a place to stay now, before UK offer holders get results. Last year the first day of term was a Sunday, with the move in day for Freshers being the Sunday of the week before. Does anyone know if this is the usual timing? Do parents usually drop the student, hang around for a few hours and then leave? We imagine that she will be eager to join the other students so will be happy if we get going asap but is it worth hanging around the day after to help get her any things that she needs for her room and fill her fridge?

4)Minors at Univ
If anyone has experience of this, please could you share your child's experience? We have researched this a lot and things seem to vary depending on the college, some forbid entry to any event where alcohol is served and others just ask you to refrain from drinking. She is a little nervous that she will be excluded from the majority of socials, even those held in college -it's fine if she can't drink alcohol at an event but will she even be allowed entry? Is there a student rep that she could get in touch with (although she isn't really keen to draw attention to the fact!). Luckily it isn't for too long but it will be the whole first term. Does anyone know which sports do not allow minors to play (we know there are some but not sure which).

Thank you all in advance!

1) Prices of essentials etc. depends on location. Sometimes the student is going to a location where it's expensive (e.g. London) despite the student being poor. This can be for various reasons, like prestige, or even that uni which was the only offer for that student, is in London (for example).

3) Students are very diverse, we can't generalise them, but it's not uncommon for parents to drop off students and hang around for a few hours/days to help them settle in. Maybe even weeks, depends on the students.

4) Again it depends on the university. Some unis are more lenient than others, in terms of social events. Which university?

Thank you for replying - I seemed to have posted in the wrong place, I had meant to post on the Oxford board

Hello everyone,
I'm excited to finally post after lurking around for months. My DD has a confirmed place at Univ for Oct '23. I studied/lived in the UK back in the day so I am familiar with UK uni life (or what it was!) but we live in France and it will be her first time living in the UK. I'd be grateful for any advice on the following for Univ.

1) Storage for international students at Univ
I know that storage varies widely - what is the situation at Univ for international students? We could drive over (with the kitchen sink) but are debating if she should bring the minimum and buy what she needs as and when she needs it. But then I look at videos of students arriving with overflowing cars and wonder if I am missing something? Apart from clothes, stationery and some personal decorations to make it feel like home I'm really not sure what is going into those cars....

2)off campus storage over the summer
Is this relatively easy to organise ie you pay for someone to pick up your things and bring them back at the beginning of term, or do you have to also move all your things and collect them? Does anyone know of a service for this that they recommend?

3) Move in date Freshers 2023
We will probably stay over for a day before/after. I'm trying to reserve a place to stay now, before UK offer holders get results. Last year the first day of term was a Sunday, with the move in day for Freshers being the Sunday of the week before. Does anyone know if this is the usual timing? Do parents usually drop the student, hang around for a few hours and then leave? We imagine that she will be eager to join the other students so will be happy if we get going asap but is it worth hanging around the day after to help get her any things that she needs for her room and fill her fridge?

4)Minors at Univ
If anyone has experience of this, please could you share your child's experience? We have researched this a lot and things seem to vary depending on the college, some forbid entry to any event where alcohol is served and others just ask you to refrain from drinking. She is a little nervous that she will be excluded from the majority of socials, even those held in college -it's fine if she can't drink alcohol at an event but will she even be allowed entry? Is there a student rep that she could get in touch with (although she isn't really keen to draw attention to the fact!). Luckily it isn't for too long but it will be the whole first term. Does anyone know which sports do not allow minors to play (we know there are some but not sure which).

Thank you all in advance!

Hello everyone,
I'm excited to finally post after lurking around for months. My DD has a confirmed place at Univ for Oct '23. I studied/lived in the UK back in the day so I am familiar with UK uni life (or what it was!) but we live in France and it will be her first time living in the UK. I'd be grateful for any advice on the following for Univ.

1) Storage for international students at Univ
I know that storage varies widely - what is the situation at Univ for international students? We could drive over (with the kitchen sink) but are debating if she should bring the minimum and buy what she needs as and when she needs it. But then I look at videos of students arriving with overflowing cars and wonder if I am missing something? Apart from clothes, stationery and some personal decorations to make it feel like home I'm really not sure what is going into those cars....

2)off campus storage over the summer
Is this relatively easy to organise ie you pay for someone to pick up your things and bring them back at the beginning of term, or do you have to also move all your things and collect them? Does anyone know of a service for this that they recommend?

3) Move in date Freshers 2023
We will probably stay over for a day before/after. I'm trying to reserve a place to stay now, before UK offer holders get results. Last year the first day of term was a Sunday, with the move in day for Freshers being the Sunday of the week before. Does anyone know if this is the usual timing? Do parents usually drop the student, hang around for a few hours and then leave? We imagine that she will be eager to join the other students so will be happy if we get going asap but is it worth hanging around the day after to help get her any things that she needs for her room and fill her fridge?

4)Minors at Univ
If anyone has experience of this, please could you share your child's experience? We have researched this a lot and things seem to vary depending on the college, some forbid entry to any event where alcohol is served and others just ask you to refrain from drinking. She is a little nervous that she will be excluded from the majority of socials, even those held in college -it's fine if she can't drink alcohol at an event but will she even be allowed entry? Is there a student rep that she could get in touch with (although she isn't really keen to draw attention to the fact!). Luckily it isn't for too long but it will be the whole first term. Does anyone know which sports do not allow minors to play (we know there are some but not sure which).

Thank you all in advance!

Bedding,fancy dress,some towels and dishcloth,some crockery and glasses and cutlery.Toiletries and make up,wash basket and laundry basket and washing liquid and conditioner.Fancy dress items.Throw for bed and perhaps a rug.Stationery and laptop.I can soon fill up that car!Son used to take basic foodstuffs and beverages to start him off for term too but he is a kitchen sink type.

1) Back in my time (2011-2015), all colleges offered storage space for internationals over the vacations (winter, easter and summer). The amount of storage space varies from college to college - my own college (Brasenose) had no restrictions, but I think some of my friends' had limits (I vaguely recall one college had a limit of two large boxes). If your daughter cannot store all her belongings in college, there's the option of renting storage space elsewhere (or alternatively, leaving stuff with friends who have year-round accommodation). I would suggest bringing the minimum to begin with, and then your daughter can buy whatever she needs or wants (e.g. decorations) from shops in Oxford or online.

2) See answer to 1)

3) Yes - freshers' week always takes place in week 0 (i.e. one week before the start of term). My parents went to Oxford with me and helped me move in, and I recall going round town buying stuff with them. I think it's fine if you want to stay one extra day just in case your daughter needs help, but she will probably have activities to go to at some points (e.g. fire safety briefing, meetings with the tutors).

4) I wasn't a minor, but I do recall clubs checking IDs (there was always a non-clubbing alternative every night for Freshers' Week as well). There was a minor in my year, and I don't think he was ever excluded from any college events even if alcohol was involved. I also cannot recall any sports which do not permit minors. You can probably reach out to your daughter's college's junior common room (JCR) for more advice.

Also basic medicines and first aid kit.Some like an iron and ironing board plus a rug for floor.Haidryer and brushes.Back pack and warm coat.

Thank you mishieru07 for your reply. I think I will definitely keep my urge to send her with every home comfort under control then!

Bearing in mind that your daughter will have to pack (and unpack) her belongings every term (which only lasts 8 weeks), I think this is very sensible! I definitely brought some things that I ended up never using for 4 years ...

Also someone brought up electronics in another post - given that France has a different socket type from the UK, your daughter might want to buy most of her electronics (e.g. kettle, hair dryer) in the UK instead unless she wants to bring adapters.

Thank you Scotney- We’ve got most of that on the list but will add fancy dress for sure.

Bearing in mind that your daughter will have to pack (and unpack) her belongings every term (which only lasts 8 weeks), I think this is very sensible! I definitely brought some things that I ended up never using for 4 years ...

Also someone brought up electronics in another post - given that France has a different socket type from the UK, your daughter might want to buy most of her electronics (e.g. kettle, hair dryer) in the UK instead unless she wants to bring adapters.

Thanks for electronics reminder - we definitely are getting them in the uk except for computer which she has already. I am quite amazed by photos of college bedrooms packed to the brim when everyone has to pack up every 8 weeks!

Son has been to Oxford,York,Cambridge and now working at Reading.He has left a room full of 'stuff' and I have four boxes in living room awaiting transport to Reading after Easter.Learn from my mistake and be minimalist.Daughter left her room with just the furniture in it and a few favourite books and the bedding.Learnt from experience!Trying to get ready for them coming home for Easter and thinking I need a skip for son's room!It is the years living out where they accumulate stuff really because nothing is provided.Living in is much easier.My number 1 tip is teach her how to use a washing machine.We spent most of our son's birthday visit 3 weeks into term helping son and so many others use the machines and dryers.Some were in tears!The highlight was the girl who put her wet clothes into a brown paper Primark bag with predictable results and the third year who unceremoniously dumped a finished load on top of the double decked washers to the horror of the patiently waiting Freshers .Memorable birthday in fairness!😁

Clothes washing training began in earnest this year so hopefully she will be proficient by Freshers’ - folding and putting away is another story but I won’t see it so there’s that!

Indeed there is that!Son actually has become a magnificent folder as he worked out it meant he could avoid ironing completely apart from the odd shirt!

Ironing? What’s that? Your son is on another level! I’ll be happy if she just wears clean clothes everyday and changes sheets every week (we can dream).