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University of Leicester

Leicester

Commute an hour by train or get accomodation?

My firm choice is Leicester, and im considering living at home and commuting there as it's just an hour away by train, and i could save so much money.
However, everyone tells me that i will be missing out on the student life...

So i dont know what to do....

Reply 1

999tigger

Original post by Mir.I.Am

Draw up a pros and cons list.

How much does socialisng, money and commuting matter to you?

University of Leicester

Leicester

Visit website

Reply 2

miriam_giardina

Original post by 999tigger

Draw up a pros and cons list.

How much does socialisng, money and commuting matter to you?

honestly, im more leaned to commuting... but it could also be the fear of being in a new environement. will i still make friends if i live at home, as a person who lives there will?

Reply 3

I is you

Original post by Mir.I.Am

Definitely live in halls for your first year. A huge part of university is to live away from home and make new friends. You can't do this very easily if you live an hour away.

After this first year you'll get an idea of:
a) How many lectures you need to attend per week - you don't want to live an hour away and find that you need to be in for 5 days a week starting at 8am.
b) Whether you would prefer living away from home or not in terms of actual living
c) Kind of linked to point a - you may find that there is a lot of group coursework and your groupmates want to meet at a moments notice. You'll have to travel for an hour there and an hour back for perhaps a half an hour meeting on the weekend. Not ideal

Reply 4

mashbbk

Having done both, I think student life is "overated", or at least, that you don't need to live out to experience what you want. Although being in a new environment can be refreshing and some may like the break from their parents as @I is you mentioned. However, I don't really believe that it makes finding friends any harder if you do decide to commute as some people believe.

If it is an hour door to door (not 1 hour train but 90 minutes door to door), I'd definitely consider commuting if the money would do you good. If however if the financial implications are of no concern, then anythings fair game. Funnily enough, I'd describe myself as an introvert, but preferred living out.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 5

999tigger

Original post by Mir.I.Am

honestly, im more leaned to commuting... but it could also be the fear of being in a new environement. will i still make friends if i live at home, as a person who lives there will?

Its possible if you make the effort. If you dont then you will have much less opportunity. It doesnt work for everyone

The decision is yours..

Reply 6

Livvyxo

I tried commuting for an hour every day and it was a nightmare. I'm actually applying for accommodation simply because it'll be easier to live near uni during the week. 9am lectures and relying on public transport is not fun.

Reply 7

jenni:)

I live about an hour away from my first choice, but i think if i get in ill live in halls, mostly because i want to get away from home but also im just fed up of relying on public transport, its such a pain and i dont even think it will be much cheaper
you could always make the friends in the first year and then move home after that

Reply 8

chipsandbutter

I would definitely live on campus, even if it's just for the first year. Think of how much time you'll be spending travelling, even if it doesn't seem like much it all adds up, also think about days where trains are delayed ect. I would also recommend it because of the experience really. I wouldn't dream of living at home even if I went to Essex uni (which I can literally see from my house). Even though I'd miss my parents terribly I'd 100% move into halls but I'm not you. Like someone else suggested, I would weigh up the pros and cons of each!

Reply 9

username1333513

move out in your first year, and if you really don't like it then you can always move back home in the second year...you should experience something different for once. I imagine travelling 1 hour every day is a nightmare, especially if you have a lot of 9ams

Reply 10

miriam_giardina

Original post by bubblegumcat

But when/how would I find out my timetable... that's the issue :frown:

Reply 11

loooopppyyy

Original post by Mir.I.Am

It depends if its 1 hour with traffic or 1 hour without, when I'm in during the day its fine, however when I got 9am lectures to get to (competing with rush hour traffic) its an absolute nightmare.

Reply 12

username1333513

Original post by Mir.I.Am

But when/how would I find out my timetable... that's the issue :frown:

i don't think you'll find out your timetable until you've actually enrolled with the uni i think :/ well that's how it worked at my uni

Reply 13

University of Leicester

Official Rep

Hi Mir.I.Am,

It can be tricky trying to decide between living at home or moving to your new university. First of all, if you are taking out a maintenance loan from Student Finance, the amount you get will be different depending on whether you are at home, or have moved away. You can see exactly how much you would get by using the student finance calculator https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-calculator

In terms of different accommodation at Leicester, we have quite a range. You can take a look at all of our halls of residence, including 360 degree tours on our accommodation website here https://rooms.le.ac.uk/student_portal/Search

For complete price lists for 2016/17, take a look here http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/accommodation/applicants/our-accommodation/fees-2016-17

Students at Leicester will usually receive their timetable during the first week of term after they have enrolled (as mentioned by bubblegumcat).

Hope that's helpful, if you have any other questions, just let us know :smile:

Nick

Reply 14

Tootles

Original post by Mir.I.Am

Depends why you're going to university. If you want to live the student life, just get a job and live near a university. If you want to get a good degree, then just do the damn' commute.

Reply 15

miriam_giardina

Original post by University of Leicester

Nick

Thank you so much for the links I will take a good look at them. Are the prices on there the same for September 2017 entry?
I will also be visiting the applicant visit day in 2 weeks so I can get a proper look around and see how I feel about it :smile:

Reply 16

University of Leicester

Official Rep

Original post by Mir.I.Am

Hi Mir.I.am,

So glad to hear that you will be attending an applicant visit day, I hope you have a wonderful time.

Unfortunately we guarantee that the prices will be the same for September 2017 accommodation. The application for 2017 entry will open soon, so you will have access to the prices then.

I hope this helps.

Antonia :smile:

Reply 17

miriam_giardina