Accomodation or commute to Mmu
So I think I'm going to choose MMU as my firm choice. The problem I'm facing is my parents want me to commute to MMU (I live an 1 hour away by train, 1h 22min by bus, 1h 4 or up to an hour 22min by tram). They also say that I would make friends by joining societies and getting a job and moving into a house with 'all the friends I'll make' after the first year, but I feel like I wouldn't bother going into Manchester just to participate? I also struggle a bit making friends, and my course only has 2ish days of contact time ish. They also use the excuse that I never do anything in the house, so how could I live 'alone'. They won't even discuss the idea of me moving in for the 1st year and staying home after that.
My loan won't cover the accommodation I was looking at, but I have savings that would help and could get a job. I am also a part of the first generation scheme, so I may be able to get some money from that.
I really don't know what to do. They keep shutting me down and saying I will be living at home if I go to MMU. It's like Edinburgh and Falmouth with my parents saying it's too far and what happens if I something happens (e.g., allergies reaction (I have to carry an epipen))
I do like the course for product design at MMU, but my parents are kind of putting me off from going there. Could anyone offer some advice on if I should just stay at home or try to move intoaccommodation?.
My loan won't cover the accommodation I was looking at, but I have savings that would help and could get a job. I am also a part of the first generation scheme, so I may be able to get some money from that.
I really don't know what to do. They keep shutting me down and saying I will be living at home if I go to MMU. It's like Edinburgh and Falmouth with my parents saying it's too far and what happens if I something happens (e.g., allergies reaction (I have to carry an epipen))
I do like the course for product design at MMU, but my parents are kind of putting me off from going there. Could anyone offer some advice on if I should just stay at home or try to move intoaccommodation?.
Reply 1
Original post
by MialimSo I think I'm going to choose MMU as my firm choice. The problem I'm facing is my parents want me to commute to MMU (I live an 1 hour away by train, 1h 22min by bus, 1h 4 or up to an hour 22min by tram). They also say that I would make friends by joining societies and getting a job and moving into a house with 'all the friends I'll make' after the first year, but I feel like I wouldn't bother going into Manchester just to participate? I also struggle a bit making friends, and my course only has 2ish days of contact time ish. They also use the excuse that I never do anything in the house, so how could I live 'alone'. They won't even discuss the idea of me moving in for the 1st year and staying home after that.
My loan won't cover the accommodation I was looking at, but I have savings that would help and could get a job. I am also a part of the first generation scheme, so I may be able to get some money from that.
I really don't know what to do. They keep shutting me down and saying I will be living at home if I go to MMU. It's like Edinburgh and Falmouth with my parents saying it's too far and what happens if I something happens (e.g., allergies reaction (I have to carry an epipen))
I do like the course for product design at MMU, but my parents are kind of putting me off from going there. Could anyone offer some advice on if I should just stay at home or try to move intoaccommodation?.
My loan won't cover the accommodation I was looking at, but I have savings that would help and could get a job. I am also a part of the first generation scheme, so I may be able to get some money from that.
I really don't know what to do. They keep shutting me down and saying I will be living at home if I go to MMU. It's like Edinburgh and Falmouth with my parents saying it's too far and what happens if I something happens (e.g., allergies reaction (I have to carry an epipen))
I do like the course for product design at MMU, but my parents are kind of putting me off from going there. Could anyone offer some advice on if I should just stay at home or try to move intoaccommodation?.
The commute is FAR too long and how will you access the workshop to do practical work if you don;t live in? Your parents should be topping up your maintenance loan and you'll get more if you aren't living at home.
Be firm - either go somewhere further away or exaplin you won't be able to acess the course properly at home. neary 3 hours a day travelling is crazy ...
Reply 2
Mialim
OP
8
Original post
by Muttley79The commute is FAR too long and how will you access the workshop to do practical work if you don;t live in? Your parents should be topping up your maintenance loan and you'll get more if you aren't living at home.
Be firm - either go somewhere further away or exaplin you won't be able to acess the course properly at home. neary 3 hours a day travelling is crazy ...
Be firm - either go somewhere further away or exaplin you won't be able to acess the course properly at home. neary 3 hours a day travelling is crazy ...
Wait sorry I meant that it would be an hour ish depending on each mode of transport so bus would be an 1h 22min etc
Reply 3
Original post
by MialimWait sorry I meant that it would be an hour ish depending on each mode of transport so bus would be an 1h 22min etc
That's one way though isn;t it? How long to get to the bus stop and the walk the other end? These are minimum times - what about poor weather? Traffic jams?
Reply 4
Mialim
OP
8
yeah one way.
It would take me 10 mins ish to walk to the bus stop.
By Bus: 1 hour including walk times (No delays or traffic) (Actually it may take longer due to roadworks which will last till spring 2026)
By Train: walk 25 mins get to my train station get to piccadilly and walk to the uni would take an hour ish
By tram: would take 50 mins from the closest station and I would need to walk to the uni. to get to the tram station it would be a 38 min bus ride as my parents would be working so i couldn't get a lift and i cant drive yet. I would also need to find a parking spot which would add time on.
I guess it would be cheaper overall by getting a travel pass but idk its not very convenient as most of the times say id have to be leaving home from 7-8am every day (so waking up at 6am). I cant even wake up for sixth form ☹️ and my parents are just saying i'll get use to it and its what it will be like when i get a job. Its also annoying me that my mum is saying to use my savings instead of a student loan because 'what will happen if the government says the debt isnt cancelled after ... years' or 'what about the interest' or 'do i really want to be paying it back if i earn above the threshold'. I can't argue with them at all because if i do my mum specifically will be like ur lazy and you will have no job, my designs are terrible and you'll never be a designer :/
honestly no clue what to do. I want a bit of freedom and make friends. IDK they are really nice its just sometimes i get fed up and idk. I know some of the areas in manchester are rough and my mum is worried i'll get robbed near my accommodation or something because she works in central manchester. yeah idk what to do.
It would take me 10 mins ish to walk to the bus stop.
By Bus: 1 hour including walk times (No delays or traffic) (Actually it may take longer due to roadworks which will last till spring 2026)
By Train: walk 25 mins get to my train station get to piccadilly and walk to the uni would take an hour ish
By tram: would take 50 mins from the closest station and I would need to walk to the uni. to get to the tram station it would be a 38 min bus ride as my parents would be working so i couldn't get a lift and i cant drive yet. I would also need to find a parking spot which would add time on.
I guess it would be cheaper overall by getting a travel pass but idk its not very convenient as most of the times say id have to be leaving home from 7-8am every day (so waking up at 6am). I cant even wake up for sixth form ☹️ and my parents are just saying i'll get use to it and its what it will be like when i get a job. Its also annoying me that my mum is saying to use my savings instead of a student loan because 'what will happen if the government says the debt isnt cancelled after ... years' or 'what about the interest' or 'do i really want to be paying it back if i earn above the threshold'. I can't argue with them at all because if i do my mum specifically will be like ur lazy and you will have no job, my designs are terrible and you'll never be a designer :/
honestly no clue what to do. I want a bit of freedom and make friends. IDK they are really nice its just sometimes i get fed up and idk. I know some of the areas in manchester are rough and my mum is worried i'll get robbed near my accommodation or something because she works in central manchester. yeah idk what to do.
Reply 5
Original post
by MialimSo I think I'm going to choose MMU as my firm choice. The problem I'm facing is my parents want me to commute to MMU (I live an 1 hour away by train, 1h 22min by bus, 1h 4 or up to an hour 22min by tram). They also say that I would make friends by joining societies and getting a job and moving into a house with 'all the friends I'll make' after the first year, but I feel like I wouldn't bother going into Manchester just to participate? I also struggle a bit making friends, and my course only has 2ish days of contact time ish. They also use the excuse that I never do anything in the house, so how could I live 'alone'. They won't even discuss the idea of me moving in for the 1st year and staying home after that.
My loan won't cover the accommodation I was looking at, but I have savings that would help and could get a job. I am also a part of the first generation scheme, so I may be able to get some money from that.
I really don't know what to do. They keep shutting me down and saying I will be living at home if I go to MMU. It's like Edinburgh and Falmouth with my parents saying it's too far and what happens if I something happens (e.g., allergies reaction (I have to carry an epipen))
I do like the course for product design at MMU, but my parents are kind of putting me off from going there. Could anyone offer some advice on if I should just stay at home or try to move intoaccommodation?.
My loan won't cover the accommodation I was looking at, but I have savings that would help and could get a job. I am also a part of the first generation scheme, so I may be able to get some money from that.
I really don't know what to do. They keep shutting me down and saying I will be living at home if I go to MMU. It's like Edinburgh and Falmouth with my parents saying it's too far and what happens if I something happens (e.g., allergies reaction (I have to carry an epipen))
I do like the course for product design at MMU, but my parents are kind of putting me off from going there. Could anyone offer some advice on if I should just stay at home or try to move intoaccommodation?.
from my personal experience, i used to commute by train first, roughly an hour with 20 mins each way to the train station and back. then my final year i used my car, 1 hr in heavy traffic.
honestly, if i had no financial issues etc.. i would have moved into accommodation. the commute gets really tiring after a while and especially with the train, i had to rationalise going into uni since it was expensive lol. if you have no choice, its not the end of the world, i mean i sucked it up. using my own car definitely allowed me more freedom but not everyone has that privilege.
if you want to move, you have to plan/ look at the logistics, its not cheap and you need to be sure you can balance work and uni. dont forget, if you decide to stay home for year one, you could change your mind for year 2 or 3 etc..
Reply 6
Original post
by Mialimyeah one way.
It would take me 10 mins ish to walk to the bus stop.
By Bus: 1 hour including walk times (No delays or traffic) (Actually it may take longer due to roadworks which will last till spring 2026)
By Train: walk 25 mins get to my train station get to piccadilly and walk to the uni would take an hour ish
By tram: would take 50 mins from the closest station and I would need to walk to the uni. to get to the tram station it would be a 38 min bus ride as my parents would be working so i couldn't get a lift and i cant drive yet. I would also need to find a parking spot which would add time on.
I guess it would be cheaper overall by getting a travel pass but idk its not very convenient as most of the times say id have to be leaving home from 7-8am every day (so waking up at 6am). I cant even wake up for sixth form ☹️ and my parents are just saying i'll get use to it and its what it will be like when i get a job. Its also annoying me that my mum is saying to use my savings instead of a student loan because 'what will happen if the government says the debt isnt cancelled after ... years' or 'what about the interest' or 'do i really want to be paying it back if i earn above the threshold'. I can't argue with them at all because if i do my mum specifically will be like ur lazy and you will have no job, my designs are terrible and you'll never be a designer :/
honestly no clue what to do. I want a bit of freedom and make friends. IDK they are really nice its just sometimes i get fed up and idk. I know some of the areas in manchester are rough and my mum is worried i'll get robbed near my accommodation or something because she works in central manchester. yeah idk what to do.
It would take me 10 mins ish to walk to the bus stop.
By Bus: 1 hour including walk times (No delays or traffic) (Actually it may take longer due to roadworks which will last till spring 2026)
By Train: walk 25 mins get to my train station get to piccadilly and walk to the uni would take an hour ish
By tram: would take 50 mins from the closest station and I would need to walk to the uni. to get to the tram station it would be a 38 min bus ride as my parents would be working so i couldn't get a lift and i cant drive yet. I would also need to find a parking spot which would add time on.
I guess it would be cheaper overall by getting a travel pass but idk its not very convenient as most of the times say id have to be leaving home from 7-8am every day (so waking up at 6am). I cant even wake up for sixth form ☹️ and my parents are just saying i'll get use to it and its what it will be like when i get a job. Its also annoying me that my mum is saying to use my savings instead of a student loan because 'what will happen if the government says the debt isnt cancelled after ... years' or 'what about the interest' or 'do i really want to be paying it back if i earn above the threshold'. I can't argue with them at all because if i do my mum specifically will be like ur lazy and you will have no job, my designs are terrible and you'll never be a designer :/
honestly no clue what to do. I want a bit of freedom and make friends. IDK they are really nice its just sometimes i get fed up and idk. I know some of the areas in manchester are rough and my mum is worried i'll get robbed near my accommodation or something because she works in central manchester. yeah idk what to do.
sucks dude. but do you really think your parents would let you move out? okay, let me change the wording, if your parents refuse to let you, would you decide to move out anyway? if you won't, i guess you're answering your own question, right?
Reply 7
Mialim
OP
8
Original post
by modus0perandifrom my personal experience, i used to commute by train first, roughly an hour with 20 mins each way to the train station and back. then my final year i used my car, 1 hr in heavy traffic.
honestly, if i had no financial issues etc.. i would have moved into accommodation. the commute gets really tiring after a while and especially with the train, i had to rationalise going into uni since it was expensive lol. if you have no choice, its not the end of the world, i mean i sucked it up. using my own car definitely allowed me more freedom but not everyone has that privilege.
if you want to move, you have to plan/ look at the logistics, its not cheap and you need to be sure you can balance work and uni. dont forget, if you decide to stay home for year one, you could change your mind for year 2 or 3 etc..
honestly, if i had no financial issues etc.. i would have moved into accommodation. the commute gets really tiring after a while and especially with the train, i had to rationalise going into uni since it was expensive lol. if you have no choice, its not the end of the world, i mean i sucked it up. using my own car definitely allowed me more freedom but not everyone has that privilege.
if you want to move, you have to plan/ look at the logistics, its not cheap and you need to be sure you can balance work and uni. dont forget, if you decide to stay home for year one, you could change your mind for year 2 or 3 etc..
Reply 8
Mialim
OP
8
Original post
by modus0perandisucks dude. but do you really think your parents would let you move out? okay, let me change the wording, if your parents refuse to let you, would you decide to move out anyway? if you won't, i guess you're answering your own question, right?
yeah you have a point. idk i think its sort of a 'if you move into accommodation ur on ur own and have to figure out how to live'. I feel like they would get over it if i moved after a while so they may help if i needed support or something. I will probably talk to my teachers about uni and stuff. honestly its stressing me out.
Reply 9
Original post
by MialimYeah.. How did you find it? was it easy to make friends and get the 'uni experience'? I'm just worried that everyone in second year will be moving into their own student houses with all the friends and i'll be alone 😕. I would probably try and get a job in the summer holiday to get some more money if i decided to move into accom and get a job maybe with the uni like the ambassador?
honestly, i did think i missed out. but i am rather introverted lol. after using my car, i feel like i had more freedom i.e. joined more societies. but before, i did still make friends and such. i think making friends wont be much of a problem, more so spending time with said friends. i get what you mean by the part about second years, but im sure theres enough students at uni that must be in the same situation as you. i wouldnt worry about things you cant really control. it shouldn't stop you even if its scary yknow? getting more money is never a bad idea though, i dont know if being a student ambassador would fund it but i guess thats something you gotta research?
Reply 10
Original post
by Mialimyeah you have a point. idk i think its sort of a 'if you move into accommodation ur on ur own and have to figure out how to live'. I feel like they would get over it if i moved after a while so they may help if i needed support or something. I will probably talk to my teachers about uni and stuff. honestly its stressing me out.
yes, talking to your uni etc is a good idea. if you end up moving out, i would try plan it all assuming you wouldn't get any help from your family just in case they dont. i hope they do though haha. don't stress too much, if you end up staying home, its not the end of the world. many students with long commute hours do so. its just how it is. good luck with it all though !
Reply 11
Mialim
OP
8
Thank you 🙂. I'm aiming to get my drivers licence after my alevels (only practical left!) and figure out how to buy a car! I'm going to try and look for jobs outside the uni and figure out what my budget would be with all the rent and stuff if i decide to move into the accommodation. Hopefully I will make friends at societies 🤞and in my course and try to put myself out there 😬 Honestly, i need to be stressing about my exams haha!
Thank you again for all the advice!
Thank you again for all the advice!
Reply 12
I commute 30 mins each way for my masters and even that feels like too much for me! The problem with commuting is it's not just the trip, it's having to get in early/late to avoid traffic, knowing you can't just walk home but have to sit in traffic after a particularly bad day, meeting friends in the city but not being able to drink and having to pay for parking... it all adds up!
Besides that, I think living in halls is really important in your first year. You make friends, find the people you'll live with next year... just generally get the chance to really 'become' a student by actually living on campus or nearby. You learn how to properly cook, do washing, pay rent on time- all super important stuff! I also have only around 2 days of contact and it's so easy to just go in, do my classes and then go home and not socialise and I will say after doing all that I never feel like driving back to the campus if my friends want to hang out or grab a coffee. For me, if I go in on a non-uni day I have to go for at least over an hour, otherwise the journey isn't worth it. Also, what's the parking situation going to be like if you can drive? Where will you park and will you be able to afford fuel/parking?
It's obvious your parents care about you and living alone can be scary, but everyone at uni is in the same boat. When I started uni and my friend had a medical emergency, everyone banded together and knew what to do. When it was late at night we would all walk home together to be safe and ensure everyone got to their flats. Stuff like paying student loans off is so far in the future for me, even now I'm doing a masters, and yet whenever I think about my uni experience I always think about how great I time I had living on-campus in my first year. It really helped me flourish as a person.
Besides that, I think living in halls is really important in your first year. You make friends, find the people you'll live with next year... just generally get the chance to really 'become' a student by actually living on campus or nearby. You learn how to properly cook, do washing, pay rent on time- all super important stuff! I also have only around 2 days of contact and it's so easy to just go in, do my classes and then go home and not socialise and I will say after doing all that I never feel like driving back to the campus if my friends want to hang out or grab a coffee. For me, if I go in on a non-uni day I have to go for at least over an hour, otherwise the journey isn't worth it. Also, what's the parking situation going to be like if you can drive? Where will you park and will you be able to afford fuel/parking?
It's obvious your parents care about you and living alone can be scary, but everyone at uni is in the same boat. When I started uni and my friend had a medical emergency, everyone banded together and knew what to do. When it was late at night we would all walk home together to be safe and ensure everyone got to their flats. Stuff like paying student loans off is so far in the future for me, even now I'm doing a masters, and yet whenever I think about my uni experience I always think about how great I time I had living on-campus in my first year. It really helped me flourish as a person.
Reply 13
Original post
by MialimThank you 🙂. I'm aiming to get my drivers licence after my alevels (only practical left!) and figure out how to buy a car! I'm going to try and look for jobs outside the uni and figure out what my budget would be with all the rent and stuff if i decide to move into the accommodation. Hopefully I will make friends at societies 🤞and in my course and try to put myself out there 😬 Honestly, i need to be stressing about my exams haha!
Thank you again for all the advice!
Thank you again for all the advice!
sounds like a great plan! if you need anyone to talk to, i'll be here
Reply 14
Original post
by MialimSo I think I'm going to choose MMU as my firm choice. The problem I'm facing is my parents want me to commute to MMU (I live an 1 hour away by train, 1h 22min by bus, 1h 4 or up to an hour 22min by tram). They also say that I would make friends by joining societies and getting a job and moving into a house with 'all the friends I'll make' after the first year, but I feel like I wouldn't bother going into Manchester just to participate? I also struggle a bit making friends, and my course only has 2ish days of contact time ish. They also use the excuse that I never do anything in the house, so how could I live 'alone'. They won't even discuss the idea of me moving in for the 1st year and staying home after that.
My loan won't cover the accommodation I was looking at, but I have savings that would help and could get a job. I am also a part of the first generation scheme, so I may be able to get some money from that.
I really don't know what to do. They keep shutting me down and saying I will be living at home if I go to MMU. It's like Edinburgh and Falmouth with my parents saying it's too far and what happens if I something happens (e.g., allergies reaction (I have to carry an epipen))
I do like the course for product design at MMU, but my parents are kind of putting me off from going there. Could anyone offer some advice on if I should just stay at home or try to move intoaccommodation?.
My loan won't cover the accommodation I was looking at, but I have savings that would help and could get a job. I am also a part of the first generation scheme, so I may be able to get some money from that.
I really don't know what to do. They keep shutting me down and saying I will be living at home if I go to MMU. It's like Edinburgh and Falmouth with my parents saying it's too far and what happens if I something happens (e.g., allergies reaction (I have to carry an epipen))
I do like the course for product design at MMU, but my parents are kind of putting me off from going there. Could anyone offer some advice on if I should just stay at home or try to move intoaccommodation?.
Hi, you are obviously stressed and it is not quite clear about whether your parents want you to stay home or live in halls. Could you clarify which it is? "They also say that I would make friends by joining societies and getting a job and moving into a house with 'all the friends I'll make' after the first year, but I feel like I wouldn't bother going into Manchester just to participate?"
It could be your parents are confused as well. As a parent, I am going through the process of realising that my eldest son is going to move out next year and it is a really big mixed bag of emotions as a parent especially when parents realise the financial cost, the worry of safety, the health side in case you need a GP. I am going through this, and I am thinking things like 'what if the place gets too damp and he gets nasal polyps that give him sleep apnoea and he doesn't wake up because his nose is blocked' .... I kid you not. Parents will worry about all sorts and never tell you outright because on the one had we want kids to have independence and on the other hand, we struggle with the fact that we have done everything for them since they were in the womb. It's an 18 year long job and suddenly you're redundant. It feels really weird and most parents want to go back and do it all over again instead of seeing their children leave home.
So, back to your decision. You sound like you are having difficulty because you struggle making friends... perhaps this is a confidence issue and I can tell you that having to make your own way in the world could increase your confidence. I can tell you for a fact that you will be surrounded by undergraduates struggling with home sickness, worry about bills, worrying about fitting in, who are they going to share with, the noise, peoples' habits. It is very different to doing A Levels and the thing is you could embrace this situation and see it as part of how you will grow into an adult and prepare yourself for the working world. You are not alone in how you feel and because the pool of people will be so much bigger you should have more chance of finding like minded people.
With regard to the course. ALWAYS pick the one YOU want to do.
Often we already know the answer.
Write things down... all your thoughts... the pros and cons. I really understand your parents worry about you having to carry an epipen. When you are an undergraduate you will be responsible for making sure you carry an epipen. Call MMU and ask them about their policy around epipens - I expect they will put the onus on you but if you live in halls and then get accommodation for MMU instead of living at home - you are still not that far away.
My advice is, get a list ready and then schedule a meeting with your parents and go over the points in a matter of fact way, as if you were thinking of it as a job so that emotions can be left out of it. I hope this helps.
An hour long commute every day to MMU would be too much but I get what you mean when you say you might not be in all the time.
List all the places you like about Manchester so if you live away from home you know where you would like to hang out. There is so much to do in Manchester for any type of person.
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