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Living far from the university

I am an international student but some of my close family members live in thatcham. My firm choice will be imperial college London and I’m unsure of the insurance, it’ll probably be Southampton because it’s close to thatcham

Thatcham to Southampton is 39.4 miles and thatcham to Imperial college london is 52.8 miles. My question is, what is your opinion regarding living this far away from uni? Do students usually live this far away from accommodation and will it just be better to live close to the universities instead of living for free but wasting a lot of time and money on travel?

Reply 1

Uni of Southampton Students

Official Rep

Original post by An ony mous

Hi,

Choosing where to live is a big part of the university experience, so it is important to make a decision that is right, and comfortable, for you.

I stayed in halls in my first year of university, so do not have experience commuting, however I am sure there are students that have been in a very similar situation to yours. You are right, I imagine commuting from either university may end up costing you quite a bit of money and time when compared to living in student accommodation. However, saying that if commuting is what you are most comfortable doing then, of course, that is absolutely fine. Have you had a look at the halls that are available at each university? The halls in Southampton are really great. I stayed in Glen Eyre which is a lovely residence with lots of green spaces that is also close to campus and bus stops (so getting in to the city is really easy).

Lots of students in their first year do feel homesick however, after the first few weeks you really do start getting into the swing of things. You will have lots of things to be working on, and lots of different events to go to, to keep you occupied. The holidays also come round really quickly!

My personal recommendation would be to have a look at the halls each university offers as, other than convenience, they also offer a great opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. However, as I have said before, if halls are not for you then do not pressure yourself. University is a better experience when you are living where you are comfortable and able to study best.

Best of luck with everything! If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Jasmine (an Official University of Southampton Rep) :smile: