live at home or uni?

Hi,

ik its different for everyone, but is it worth living at home if it is an hours drive from home to uni campus? i was initially thinking about going for accommodation, but honestly considering how much prices are rising for everything, I think I'd save so much money living at home.

I'm wondering if anyone else has sort of long hours to get from home to uni and how you find it. I know I'll also miss out on 'uni life' but tbh.. quite the loner with a small circle of friends so I'm not sure if it'd be much difference lol

Also an hours drive isnt even alot, but i think itd be mildly annoying lmao but any advice would be much appreciated ty!

Reply 1

Rachel_ysj

Original post by Anonymous

Hi,
ik its different for everyone, but is it worth living at home if it is an hours drive from home to uni campus? i was initially thinking about going for accommodation, but honestly considering how much prices are rising for everything, I think I'd save so much money living at home.
I'm wondering if anyone else has sort of long hours to get from home to uni and how you find it. I know I'll also miss out on 'uni life' but tbh.. quite the loner with a small circle of friends so I'm not sure if it'd be much difference lol
Also an hours drive isnt even alot, but i think itd be mildly annoying lmao but any advice would be much appreciated ty!

Hi there!

I completely understand your concerns, and I absolutely agree that it depends on the individual! I have a few friends who commuted at university, and they found certain aspects quite difficult. As part of the dance society, we would have classes quite late on an evening as well as weekly socials. They struggled to attend those classes which they would have loved to go to due to their journey so late at night, but we had many sleepovers as a result which I found super exciting. They were still able to remain social and attend a lot of events, but it just required extra effort and perseverance to manage the hours of travelling. The fact you would be driving would help your situation also because you are not limited by public transport.

You may wish to trial commuting in your first year while you make friends and then you always have the opportunity to live at uni in your second or third year depending on how your experience travelling in first year went! I'm sure that whatever you choose to do, it will work out fine for you!

Good luck with your future studies and experience at university!

Rachel - York St John Student Rep

Reply 2

BU Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

Hi,
ik its different for everyone, but is it worth living at home if it is an hours drive from home to uni campus? i was initially thinking about going for accommodation, but honestly considering how much prices are rising for everything, I think I'd save so much money living at home.
I'm wondering if anyone else has sort of long hours to get from home to uni and how you find it. I know I'll also miss out on 'uni life' but tbh.. quite the loner with a small circle of friends so I'm not sure if it'd be much difference lol
Also an hours drive isnt even alot, but i think itd be mildly annoying lmao but any advice would be much appreciated ty!

Hi there,
I’m Q, a Media Production placement student.

If you’re not sure between accommodation/halls or living at home, I think it depends on what you are looking for with your university experience, and how far the university is from where you live. I’ve known quite a few students who live different distances away from campus and they all have had a different experience.

It’s worth considering the times of classes, as they can start early in the morning or finish late in the day, and sometimes have big gaps in between them. When it comes to a life outside studies, many students still join clubs and societies, or hand out with friends and not have a problem with commuting. Like classes, sometimes these can start early or finish quite late.

There are also other benefits to living in accommodation, such as meeting new people, accommodations hosting a range of local activities and having access to other university services.

I enjoyed my experience of living in accommodation in my first year, and even though I don’t anymore, I think it was still good to experience living in halls.

I hope this helps - let me know if you have any more questions.
Q – BU Student Rep

Reply 3

University of Surrey Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

Hi,
ik its different for everyone, but is it worth living at home if it is an hours drive from home to uni campus? i was initially thinking about going for accommodation, but honestly considering how much prices are rising for everything, I think I'd save so much money living at home.

I'm wondering if anyone else has sort of long hours to get from home to uni and how you find it. I know I'll also miss out on 'uni life' but tbh.. quite the loner with a small circle of friends so I'm not sure if it'd be much difference lol
Also an hours drive isnt even alot, but i think itd be mildly annoying lmao but any advice would be much appreciated ty!

Hello Anon,
I personally live an hours drive away from university and I find much better to live on campus compared to commuting.

To give a comparison I had to commute an hour each way to get to sixth form and at times, I found it tiring to get to school combined with the fact that the trains would sometimes be delayed or cancelled. By living on campus at university, it meant that I could discover my university campus and the town more and have much more freedom and flexibility when it came to what times I wanted to go out and when I wanted to study in the library. I also like how living on campus gives me that clear separation between home and university.

However this is just my personal experience and I would recommend further weighing up the pro vs cons when it comes to commuting. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Best wishes
Imane
Languages student

Reply 4

University of Huddersfield

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

Hi,
ik its different for everyone, but is it worth living at home if it is an hours drive from home to uni campus? i was initially thinking about going for accommodation, but honestly considering how much prices are rising for everything, I think I'd save so much money living at home.
I'm wondering if anyone else has sort of long hours to get from home to uni and how you find it. I know I'll also miss out on 'uni life' but tbh.. quite the loner with a small circle of friends so I'm not sure if it'd be much difference lol
Also an hours drive isnt even alot, but i think itd be mildly annoying lmao but any advice would be much appreciated ty!

Anon,

It might be a good idea to check out parking options around your university and to get an idea about times and places where the traffic is likely to be heavy. At the moment, it may be an hour's journey but this could be longer depending on the time of your lectures and seminars. It might be good to try and find out how often you'll be in for university and whether it will be half or full days.

One hour one way is doable. It may become an issue if you want to stay late for events and it's been a long day and you don't feel like driving, but at the same time it's better that you have your own transport rather than having to rely on the bus. You might also be able to car share with other students who might also be commuting.

You may have a small circle of friends and might prefer that but you might also find that there are lots of great people at university who you get on well with. It is good to give new people a chance! It also gives you the chance to build your interpersonal skills which you will need whatever you decide to do post uni. Building friendships takes time and involves making and spending time with people. You may need to maximise your time during the day to attend uni events and to hang out with other students. It would be good to prioritise this in the first year when people are more open to making friends.

Hope that helps,

Oluwatosin – 3rd year student – University of Huddersfield

Reply 5

hallamstudents

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

Hi,
ik its different for everyone, but is it worth living at home if it is an hours drive from home to uni campus? i was initially thinking about going for accommodation, but honestly considering how much prices are rising for everything, I think I'd save so much money living at home.
I'm wondering if anyone else has sort of long hours to get from home to uni and how you find it. I know I'll also miss out on 'uni life' but tbh.. quite the loner with a small circle of friends so I'm not sure if it'd be much difference lol
Also an hours drive isnt even alot, but i think itd be mildly annoying lmao but any advice would be much appreciated ty!

Hi there,

Lots of people have this dilemma so I thought I'd also just give some of my advice!

Firstly, I would say that one thing to consider is how often you would be in uni. If you are going to be in uni every day, an hour is a long commute to potentially have to do 5 days a week. But, if you are only in uni for 2/3 days a week, an hour commute isn't that bad. You could try and find out how often you would be in by finding out roughly how many contact hours you would have per week as this may affect your decision.

It's also worth finding out a bit about the cost of the commute. Of course you have petrol to consider which could be 2 hours worth per day and then also parking when you are at uni. Have a look what parking options there are where you go to uni as sometimes there is uni parking and you can pay for a pass for this for a year, sometimes there is uni parking where you pay as you go and sometimes if it is in a city you will just have to use normal city parking. I know that at Hallam, students just use normal city parking as it is a city centre uni but you can get discounted all day tickets through the uni so it's worth looking into this.

You can still make friends when you live at home! While it is a bit easier when you live in accommodation, it is still possible so don't worry too much about it. I will say that you might have to make a bit more effort at first to talk to people and ask people to make plans but everyone wants to make friends at uni so it's likely they will say yes!

Another thing I would say is make sure you attend your lectures and seminars as this is where you will meet people and make friends. Also, attending the welcome week events if there are any is a good idea too as you will meet people this way too and it's also a good way to find your way around some of the uni buildings and the place you are going too.

Joining societies is also a good way of meeting people and they are fun too! Definitely look into societies and see if there are any you fancy. Also joining Facebook groups is a good way of meeting some people too as there will be loads of people on here!

I hope some of this helps,

Lucy -SHU student ambassador :smile:

Reply 6

Anonymous #1

Original post by University of Surrey Student Rep

Hello Anon,
I personally live an hours drive away from university and I find much better to live on campus compared to commuting.
To give a comparison I had to commute an hour each way to get to sixth form and at times, I found it tiring to get to school combined with the fact that the trains would sometimes be delayed or cancelled. By living on campus at university, it meant that I could discover my university campus and the town more and have much more freedom and flexibility when it came to what times I wanted to go out and when I wanted to study in the library. I also like how living on campus gives me that clear separation between home and university.
However this is just my personal experience and I would recommend further weighing up the pro vs cons when it comes to commuting. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Best wishes
Imane
Languages student

hi, thank you sm for the response this was a really helpful insight. I'm just wondering whether you find that those benefits outweight the costs? I know everyone will have to endure higher costs during uni life but if there are ways to avoid it im very much willing to - also I get quite lonely/depressed easily, being at home with my parents tends to protect me from entering those kinds of episodes. Im just quite worried about my selfcare during uni if i had to live alone and be reliant on myself. on the other hand, this is part of adulthood i suppose!

Reply 7

Coventry University Student Ambassadors

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

Hey, Coventry University Student Ambassador here! 👋

I totally understand your dilemma. I started university during the pandemic, which meant studying at home, missing out on the typical university experience, and having no Freshers events 😥. Socializing was extremely difficult, and virtual lectures just weren't the same. Whether to live at home or in student accommodation is a very subjective experience. After my first year, I got used to living at home, and student accommodation didn’t interest me much. This was mainly because I enjoyed online activities and as a gamer I was used to having online friends. I connected with students who shared these preferences, and we met up on campus days!

However, I didn't live as far away as you do. Some people are fine with commuting, especially if their timetable only requires a few days or half-days on campus. Although it varies by course and university, I knew some students from Birmingham who took two trains to get to Coventry. To me, that would be awful 😭, but they were fine with it. It’s all very subjective.

Adulthood indeed involves making tough choices, but it doesn't have to be uncomfortable! Your well-being comes first. If you tend to feel lonely or depressed easily, staying at home with your parents' support might be the right choice as you transition into university life. On the other hand, being in university accommodation, attending events, joining societies, and exploring the city could alleviate loneliness. It could be what you need or it could have the opposite effect. It’s all about how you feel and what makes you comfortable.

I understand costs are a concern, especially in this economy 😒. I suggest discussing financial matters with your parents. While avoiding high costs is important, prioritizing your well-being is crucial. Everyone experiences university differently. It should be a time for learning, growth, and fun. Concerns about self-care, especially after depressive episodes are valid. Without your usual support system, self-reliance can be challenging. However, most universities offer mental health and counseling services to support you, joining societies or making friends can also grow your support network.🤝

Don’t be afraid to stumble. Your parents will always be there for you, and this could be an opportunity to test the waters in a new environment. Remember, this isn't a be-all and end-all situation—you can always go back home and reach out to those around you. After considering all this, you can evaluate the financial pros and cons. Sometimes, focusing too much on saving money makes us forget to prioritize our well-being. I hope this gives you some extra insights. Best of luck with your further studies!

Dorna | Coventry University Student Ambassador

Reply 8

ARUStudents

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

Hi,
ik its different for everyone, but is it worth living at home if it is an hours drive from home to uni campus? i was initially thinking about going for accommodation, but honestly considering how much prices are rising for everything, I think I'd save so much money living at home.
I'm wondering if anyone else has sort of long hours to get from home to uni and how you find it. I know I'll also miss out on 'uni life' but tbh.. quite the loner with a small circle of friends so I'm not sure if it'd be much difference lol
Also an hours drive isnt even alot, but i think itd be mildly annoying lmao but any advice would be much appreciated ty!

Hiya,

I decided to stay at home when starting uni and I have a 45-60 minute commute depending on if I’m driving or catching the train. I’m in my third year now and haven’t found that it’s impacted me at all. If anything I’ve found staying at home to be a massive bonus.

I’ve preferred being close to my friends and family. They’ve been really important for support during stressful times. I was also the same as you, I didn’t want to pay out all this money for student accommodation. It’s worked out well and I’ve been able to save some money!

I also don’t feel that I’ve missed out on uni life. I’m personally not one for partying every weekend but when there’s something going on, I just get the train there and back. On occasion I’ve stayed the night with a friend if I’ve wanted to stay out later than my last train.

Do what feels right for you! If you want to change this decision in the future you can, it’s not set it stone. Good luck 🙂

Sophie (ARU)

Reply 9

jonathanemptage

Original post by Anonymous

Hi,
ik its different for everyone, but is it worth living at home if it is an hours drive from home to uni campus? i was initially thinking about going for accommodation, but honestly considering how much prices are rising for everything, I think I'd save so much money living at home.
I'm wondering if anyone else has sort of long hours to get from home to uni and how you find it. I know I'll also miss out on 'uni life' but tbh.. quite the loner with a small circle of friends so I'm not sure if it'd be much difference lol
Also an hours drive isnt even alot, but i think itd be mildly annoying lmao but any advice would be much appreciated ty!

you will definitely miss out on the uni life the problem is though is that lots of unis don't have parking or enough parking for students so you might have to find parking in the town and that can cost a lot I was in Reading yesterday and the parking cost me £12 for just a couple of hours if you did that for let's say 9 hours (that was a short day but I did have 2 and a half days off a week) it works out as £6 a day 6*9 = £54 if you are in 3 days a week (normal in first year) you are spending £162 a year on parking alone where as halls in my old university (Solent) cost £159 for the most expensive halls a week so your actually saving a little money each week by staying in halls (yeah i know £3 but it all adds up) But the cheapest is £121 a week saving £41 a week so your thinking what about bills and internet etc well those are all included. also your losing two hours a day travelling hours which most students would be using to study and things halls are a far better option for a number of reasons aside from possibly working out slightly cheaper.

Reply 10

jonathanemptage

Original post by Rachel_ysj

Hi there!
I completely understand your concerns, and I absolutely agree that it depends on the individual! I have a few friends who commuted at university, and they found certain aspects quite difficult. As part of the dance society, we would have classes quite late on an evening as well as weekly socials. They struggled to attend those classes which they would have loved to go to due to their journey so late at night, but we had many sleepovers as a result which I found super exciting. They were still able to remain social and attend a lot of events, but it just required extra effort and perseverance to manage the hours of travelling. The fact you would be driving would help your situation also because you are not limited by public transport.
You may wish to trial commuting in your first year while you make friends and then you always have the opportunity to live at uni in your second or third year depending on how your experience travelling in first year went! I'm sure that whatever you choose to do, it will work out fine for you!
Good luck with your future studies and experience at university!
Rachel - York St John Student Rep

Or do some dry runs in bad weather and see if they think they could handle that for a year or not.

Reply 11

University of Surrey Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

Hello Anon,

Apologies for the delay!

The costs weren't really that big of a barrier for me however, I personally found that the benefits outweighed the costs. I liked being on campus and closer to lectures rather than having to commute from home, this also meant that I could wake up later, especially better for me when it came to 9:00 am lectures.

One way to avoid higher living costs at university in my opinion is to look at the range of accommodation options available. Usually universities will have different types of accommodation available at a range of different price points so it might be worth looking at the types of accommodation at university to see which one suits your budget and preference best. For example, the University of Surrey has accomodation (shared room) for as cheap as £79 a week but also other types of accomodation at different price points (Overview of accommodation | University of Surrey). It's also good to check what student discounts your university or anyone else offers for students.

I was worried about being away from my parent as well and was upset at first but I got used to it over time and made sure that I went home during the Easter, Summer and Christmas break. A great way to stay in contact with your family is to videocall them, maybe you could set up a regular routine to videocall your parents.

In terms of selfcare I asked my parent for advice and watched YouTube videos when it came to recipes (this helped me learn how do things such as cooking my own meals for example and there's plenty of recipes online). The following doesn't work for everyone of course, but one thing that could also be helpful is to make a weekly plan that way you can plan things around your lessons.

Best wishes
Imane
Languages student

(edited 1 year ago)