大象传媒

On the eve of packing for university, 18-year-old Anoushka talks to fellow students and parents about whether it's best to leave long-term lovers behind, or to try to weave them into the fabric of a new start on campus?

As Fresher鈥檚 Week kicks off across the country, Anoushka and her friends talk at length about how difficult it might be to keep relationships from their schooldays going once they begin at Uni. It's a difficult decision, especially when parents and even university officials are offering contradictory advice! She's sceptical that school romances can last, but some of those she鈥檚 closest to are adamant they can navigate the pitfalls of being on different campuses and will stay together throughout.

Anoushka's parents are keen for her to throw herself into her new opportunities without worrying about a boyfriend. Some of her friends are guided by parents who themselves weathered college separation and believe it's possible to make anything work if you work at it! An online search points her towards older students keen to help others making the difficult decisions they once grappled with. There鈥檚 information on everything, from dealing with fears about cheating lovers to how often you should meet up to keep romance alive!

It鈥檚 an issue being played out in homes across the country as difficult decisions are made by new students. On the eve of transmission Anoushka will be starting in Manchester and preparing for the fun to come. It鈥檚 a journey Anna Michaux has already made, and when she did she and her boyfriend in London committed to staying together. They managed to do just that for the first two years and she tells Anoushka that far from giving up on new opportunities, the experience helped her appreciate university much more.

鈥淚f you can live apart for up to three years, that鈥檚 pretty impressive. It shows that you can trust each other and that you care enough about the person to take five-hour coaches every month. If that isn鈥檛 love, I don鈥檛 know what is!鈥� And Anna isn鈥檛 sad that she gave up a lot to try and make things work: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a strange situation when you start at college and there鈥檚 this focus on young people and being at Uni with lots of partners. That wasn鈥檛 ever part of why I went and I never felt like I was missing out.鈥�