Should I commute or live out?

Hi im going to start pharmacy at the uni of Manchester this September and am just a bit conflicted as to whether I should commute or move out. I live about 8 miles away from the uni, I don’t have a license and it would take minimum an hour by public transport. The public transport in the city isn’t the best, the bus id get comes once every 30 mins and esp in winter can be delayed. Im not opposed to spending a load on Ubers tbh I should mention. I have been allocated accom which is canterbury court which is 7k (!!) for the year, I get 5.6k for SFE (I am doing the CYI form so I could get more but it’s a gamble bc if my household anticipated earnings don’t match their actual earnings over the next year I could have to pay back the owed SFE upfront asap) I am on a gap year so have around 10k saved up but feel it’s stupid to spend it on uni, and I have to pay the 7k for accom regardless of whether I stay there for the full year or not, which quite frankly seems stupid

My parents are fine with it they do think it’s a bit of a waste of money and that I shouldn’t put myself in unnecessary doubt especially given the current economic climate which is very valid, hence why im asking. Staying out and all isn’t a worry, they’re not particularly strict so they will let me do my own thing. I hear a lot of commuters say they can’t go on nights out and stuff bc getting back home is a pain but I don’t see why they can’t just crash at a friends house or get an uber?

I do care about making friends and having a social life in uni. Im really not at all sure what I should do and would be so grateful for any help. Is commuting actually that bad, online no one has anything nice to say about it but tbf no one has anything nice to say about anything online.thanks so much

Reply 1

Chester Student

Official Rep

Original post by user10294838

Hi im going to start pharmacy at the uni of Manchester this September and am just a bit conflicted as to whether I should commute or move out. I live about 8 miles away from the uni, I don’t have a license and it would take minimum an hour by public transport. The public transport in the city isn’t the best, the bus id get comes once every 30 mins and esp in winter can be delayed. Im not opposed to spending a load on Ubers tbh I should mention. I have been allocated accom which is canterbury court which is 7k (!!) for the year, I get 5.6k for SFE (I am doing the CYI form so I could get more but it’s a gamble bc if my household anticipated earnings don’t match their actual earnings over the next year I could have to pay back the owed SFE upfront asap) I am on a gap year so have around 10k saved up but feel it’s stupid to spend it on uni, and I have to pay the 7k for accom regardless of whether I stay there for the full year or not, which quite frankly seems stupid
My parents are fine with it they do think it’s a bit of a waste of money and that I shouldn’t put myself in unnecessary doubt especially given the current economic climate which is very valid, hence why im asking. Staying out and all isn’t a worry, they’re not particularly strict so they will let me do my own thing. I hear a lot of commuters say they can’t go on nights out and stuff bc getting back home is a pain but I don’t see why they can’t just crash at a friends house or get an uber?
I do care about making friends and having a social life in uni. Im really not at all sure what I should do and would be so grateful for any help. Is commuting actually that bad, online no one has anything nice to say about it but tbf no one has anything nice to say about anything online.thanks so much

Hi there,

There are definitely benefits to commuting, just as there are benefits to staying in accommodation. Neither is bad, it is just what works for you and your situation!

I think one of the main concerns for students who commute, particularly those who commute for an hour or more, is that they will miss out on the social aspects that living at university can bring. Having to factor in a long commute means that there are less things you can get involved in, especially events that happen in the evenings. In your situation, it doesn't sound like this would be much of a problem, especially since your parents are laid-back, which is great!

Many students also choose to commute to save. It sounds like you've thought a lot about this, which is great. Accommodation can be expensive and if you have alternative options that you think would be better for you financially and in general, definitely consider them. If you feel that you can be organized and willing to commute at odd hours, rely on public transport and have Uber as a back-up plan, that is great and you sound prepared!

Would getting a license during your time at university be an option too? This would definitely make your commute even easier. Saving money by living at home may be an incentive for this!

I hope this helps,

Isabella
Fourth Year Geography (With a Year Abroad)

Reply 2

UEA Rep Fatma

Official Rep

Original post by user10294838

Hi im going to start pharmacy at the uni of Manchester this September and am just a bit conflicted as to whether I should commute or move out. I live about 8 miles away from the uni, I don’t have a license and it would take minimum an hour by public transport. The public transport in the city isn’t the best, the bus id get comes once every 30 mins and esp in winter can be delayed. Im not opposed to spending a load on Ubers tbh I should mention. I have been allocated accom which is canterbury court which is 7k (!!) for the year, I get 5.6k for SFE (I am doing the CYI form so I could get more but it’s a gamble bc if my household anticipated earnings don’t match their actual earnings over the next year I could have to pay back the owed SFE upfront asap) I am on a gap year so have around 10k saved up but feel it’s stupid to spend it on uni, and I have to pay the 7k for accom regardless of whether I stay there for the full year or not, which quite frankly seems stupid
My parents are fine with it they do think it’s a bit of a waste of money and that I shouldn’t put myself in unnecessary doubt especially given the current economic climate which is very valid, hence why im asking. Staying out and all isn’t a worry, they’re not particularly strict so they will let me do my own thing. I hear a lot of commuters say they can’t go on nights out and stuff bc getting back home is a pain but I don’t see why they can’t just crash at a friends house or get an uber?
I do care about making friends and having a social life in uni. Im really not at all sure what I should do and would be so grateful for any help. Is commuting actually that bad, online no one has anything nice to say about it but tbf no one has anything nice to say about anything online.thanks so much

Hi! @user10294838 🙂
I understand this is a hard choice to make as there are pros and cons to each side!
I've just finished my second year and I commuted both years so hopefully this helps!
In terms of money saving, commuting will save you a lot of money as you also wouldn't need to perhaps think about money for food etc...
In terms of social life, it is definitely better to live at uni or close by. Have you explored student houses near you're preferred university? It doesn't have to be within halls and it may be cheaper.
However, you don't miss out on too much by commuting. I'd highly recommend you get to know people during freshers' week, especially if you commute as you won't meet people through accommodation. As well as this, I'd highly recommend you join clubs and societies to meet even more people. As you don't have an issue with staying over friends' you can definitely join in with nights out, you can also still do this when commuting, just make sure you plan ahead. For example, I cycle to university (~30 minutes) and I find it harder to join in with socials that more in the evening especially during winter, but it's also not impossible to join those socials as I can just get the bus instead.

As others have already mentioned, getting a driving license may be worth it, as you can cut down on commuting time and you can also have more freedom in joining in with social activities. As well as this, driving costs will be cheaper than accommodation costs.
It will depend on what works best for you. If you think you are more of an outgoing person who can make up for the lack of potential accommodation friends through clubs/societies and even course mates, then it may be worth looking into commuting. However, if you also feel like you do want to make those connections through accommodation then you can maybe look at cheaper accommodation near the university.
I hope this helps!!
Fatma
Natural Sciences student.

Reply 3

University of Strathclyde Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post by user10294838

Hi im going to start pharmacy at the uni of Manchester this September and am just a bit conflicted as to whether I should commute or move out. I live about 8 miles away from the uni, I don’t have a license and it would take minimum an hour by public transport. The public transport in the city isn’t the best, the bus id get comes once every 30 mins and esp in winter can be delayed. Im not opposed to spending a load on Ubers tbh I should mention. I have been allocated accom which is canterbury court which is 7k (!!) for the year, I get 5.6k for SFE (I am doing the CYI form so I could get more but it’s a gamble bc if my household anticipated earnings don’t match their actual earnings over the next year I could have to pay back the owed SFE upfront asap) I am on a gap year so have around 10k saved up but feel it’s stupid to spend it on uni, and I have to pay the 7k for accom regardless of whether I stay there for the full year or not, which quite frankly seems stupid
My parents are fine with it they do think it’s a bit of a waste of money and that I shouldn’t put myself in unnecessary doubt especially given the current economic climate which is very valid, hence why im asking. Staying out and all isn’t a worry, they’re not particularly strict so they will let me do my own thing. I hear a lot of commuters say they can’t go on nights out and stuff bc getting back home is a pain but I don’t see why they can’t just crash at a friends house or get an uber?
I do care about making friends and having a social life in uni. Im really not at all sure what I should do and would be so grateful for any help. Is commuting actually that bad, online no one has anything nice to say about it but tbf no one has anything nice to say about anything online.thanks so much

Hi (:

I commuted for my first year of uni, also no licence and an hour trainride + walk to campus and found overall i didnt miss out on much! - as you were saying crashing at friends places is usually an option if needed, the only thing with this i found a bit annoying was when i was working the next again day would have to get a train back really early to get to work! - but majority of the time unless i was going clubbing i would be able to catch a train and get back home since for me they were running till around 12 at night (:

social wise, I did find to meet new people since no flatmates i was having to put myself out there a bit more than i probably would have if I'd been in halls - I found though that with joining some societies & chatting to people on my course i was able to still find my group of people and have a great time! - you'll also probably realise that theres a lot more people than you think also commuting! - maybe not as far as the hour long commute but i have friends who would also be relying on public transport to get back so your definetly not the only one!!

The main reason i then chose to move out the next again year was because i was commuting 4/5 days for uni (which does get a bit tiring when your doing it every week + work at weekends!), and i also have a placement year on my course where i'll likely have to move so just allows me beforehand to get used to living away with it still being a city i know before moving to wherever my placement will be (:

Hope this helps!

Emily
Year 3, Chemistry
Official University Of Strathclyde Rep

Reply 4

City UoL Rep 4

Official Rep

Original post by user10294838

Hi im going to start pharmacy at the uni of Manchester this September and am just a bit conflicted as to whether I should commute or move out. I live about 8 miles away from the uni, I don’t have a license and it would take minimum an hour by public transport. The public transport in the city isn’t the best, the bus id get comes once every 30 mins and esp in winter can be delayed. Im not opposed to spending a load on Ubers tbh I should mention. I have been allocated accom which is canterbury court which is 7k (!!) for the year, I get 5.6k for SFE (I am doing the CYI form so I could get more but it’s a gamble bc if my household anticipated earnings don’t match their actual earnings over the next year I could have to pay back the owed SFE upfront asap) I am on a gap year so have around 10k saved up but feel it’s stupid to spend it on uni, and I have to pay the 7k for accom regardless of whether I stay there for the full year or not, which quite frankly seems stupid
My parents are fine with it they do think it’s a bit of a waste of money and that I shouldn’t put myself in unnecessary doubt especially given the current economic climate which is very valid, hence why im asking. Staying out and all isn’t a worry, they’re not particularly strict so they will let me do my own thing. I hear a lot of commuters say they can’t go on nights out and stuff bc getting back home is a pain but I don’t see why they can’t just crash at a friends house or get an uber?
I do care about making friends and having a social life in uni. Im really not at all sure what I should do and would be so grateful for any help. Is commuting actually that bad, online no one has anything nice to say about it but tbf no one has anything nice to say about anything online.thanks so much

Hey! 😊

Totally get where you’re coming from it’s a big decision, and I think it’s great that you’re properly weighing your options and planning ahead. I actually chose to commute from home too, and my journey takes about an hour sometimes even 1.5 hours if there’s a delay. Commuting can be a bit of a hassle at times delays and cancellations do happen but I’ve found that planning your journey ahead and having a backup route makes a big difference. Depending on your route, walking or cycling part of the way might help, and if all else fails, an Uber can save the day.

One thing I really appreciated about staying home is the extra support during exam season. When things get intense, it really helps having family around whether it’s food, a quiet space, or just not having to worry about chores. That peace of mind was huge for me.

That said, I still had a full uni experience. I joined societies, went to events, and even ended up becoming president of a society. So commuting doesn’t mean missing out you just need to put yourself out there a bit more in the beginning.

To help with your decision, I’d suggest making a pros and cons list for both options. You could also create a simple spreadsheet to compare your finances look at best-case and worst-case monthly spending for both commuting and moving out. That might give you a clearer picture of what’s realistic and sustainable for you.

Whatever you choose, just know that both options can work it’s all about what suits your lifestyle, budget, and goals. Best of luck with everything, and I hope you have an amazing start to Pharmacy in September! 😊

Reply 5

user10294838

Original post by City UoL Rep 4

Hey! 😊
Totally get where you’re coming from it’s a big decision, and I think it’s great that you’re properly weighing your options and planning ahead. I actually chose to commute from home too, and my journey takes about an hour sometimes even 1.5 hours if there’s a delay. Commuting can be a bit of a hassle at times delays and cancellations do happen but I’ve found that planning your journey ahead and having a backup route makes a big difference. Depending on your route, walking or cycling part of the way might help, and if all else fails, an Uber can save the day.
One thing I really appreciated about staying home is the extra support during exam season. When things get intense, it really helps having family around whether it’s food, a quiet space, or just not having to worry about chores. That peace of mind was huge for me.
That said, I still had a full uni experience. I joined societies, went to events, and even ended up becoming president of a society. So commuting doesn’t mean missing out you just need to put yourself out there a bit more in the beginning.
To help with your decision, I’d suggest making a pros and cons list for both options. You could also create a simple spreadsheet to compare your finances look at best-case and worst-case monthly spending for both commuting and moving out. That might give you a clearer picture of what’s realistic and sustainable for you.
Whatever you choose, just know that both options can work it’s all about what suits your lifestyle, budget, and goals. Best of luck with everything, and I hope you have an amazing start to Pharmacy in September! 😊

Hi thanks so much for your reply. Would you say commuting negatively impacted your social life and going out or was it all still very doable?

Reply 6

hallamstudents

Official Rep

Original post by user10294838

Hi im going to start pharmacy at the uni of Manchester this September and am just a bit conflicted as to whether I should commute or move out. I live about 8 miles away from the uni, I don’t have a license and it would take minimum an hour by public transport. The public transport in the city isn’t the best, the bus id get comes once every 30 mins and esp in winter can be delayed. Im not opposed to spending a load on Ubers tbh I should mention. I have been allocated accom which is canterbury court which is 7k (!!) for the year, I get 5.6k for SFE (I am doing the CYI form so I could get more but it’s a gamble bc if my household anticipated earnings don’t match their actual earnings over the next year I could have to pay back the owed SFE upfront asap) I am on a gap year so have around 10k saved up but feel it’s stupid to spend it on uni, and I have to pay the 7k for accom regardless of whether I stay there for the full year or not, which quite frankly seems stupid
My parents are fine with it they do think it’s a bit of a waste of money and that I shouldn’t put myself in unnecessary doubt especially given the current economic climate which is very valid, hence why im asking. Staying out and all isn’t a worry, they’re not particularly strict so they will let me do my own thing. I hear a lot of commuters say they can’t go on nights out and stuff bc getting back home is a pain but I don’t see why they can’t just crash at a friends house or get an uber?
I do care about making friends and having a social life in uni. Im really not at all sure what I should do and would be so grateful for any help. Is commuting actually that bad, online no one has anything nice to say about it but tbf no one has anything nice to say about anything online.thanks so much

Hi there,

As everyone has said, there are pros and cons to living at home, and pros and cons to living in halls! Here are some things that I would consider, based on my experience at uni so far.

•

The social aspect. I know you have said this wouldn't be a problem and it sounds like you have this figured out so don't worry about this too much. I think the main thing with this is being further away and getting home etc but if you are willing to spend money on Uber's this shouldn't be a problem. Of course if you live in halls, you get more of a chance to meet people this way, but as long as you are willing to put yourself out there to meet some new people this won't be a issue! Quite a few of my friends commute and they still have a great time!

•

I think one of the best things for me was having lots of independence in halls. I liked living with friends, I liked living away from home and just being more independent! My parents are very laid back so I always have freedom at home, but it is nice to just live independently and do more things for yourself. However, you have said you have independence at home, so it depends how important this is for you.

•

I also liked just being close to uni. You are close to all your friends, uni, the library, the SU etc. I liked this but it isn't important for everyone.

•

You do save a lot of money by living at home. I know you have to factor in transport costs etc but of course you will save lots of money by doing this.

•

As someone else has suggested, you could spend some of the money you are saving to get your license if you wanted to do this if you do decide to live at home! This way if you commute in second or third year you could always drive in which would save a lot of time.

•

It might be a good idea to do the commute at the peak times on a weekday so you get used to what it would be like. Go as if you had a 9am or if you finished at 5 so you can see what it would be like as this may make your mind up either way.

•

Whatever you choose, you are not stuck with this. If you make friends you wanted to live with in second year, you could always move into a house then! Same in third year if you wanted to - there are options.

I hope some of this helps,

Lucy -SHU student ambassador 🙂

Reply 7

Matt-WrexhamUni

Official Rep

Original post by user10294838

Hi im going to start pharmacy at the uni of Manchester this September and am just a bit conflicted as to whether I should commute or move out. I live about 8 miles away from the uni, I don’t have a license and it would take minimum an hour by public transport. The public transport in the city isn’t the best, the bus id get comes once every 30 mins and esp in winter can be delayed. Im not opposed to spending a load on Ubers tbh I should mention. I have been allocated accom which is canterbury court which is 7k (!!) for the year, I get 5.6k for SFE (I am doing the CYI form so I could get more but it’s a gamble bc if my household anticipated earnings don’t match their actual earnings over the next year I could have to pay back the owed SFE upfront asap) I am on a gap year so have around 10k saved up but feel it’s stupid to spend it on uni, and I have to pay the 7k for accom regardless of whether I stay there for the full year or not, which quite frankly seems stupid
My parents are fine with it they do think it’s a bit of a waste of money and that I shouldn’t put myself in unnecessary doubt especially given the current economic climate which is very valid, hence why im asking. Staying out and all isn’t a worry, they’re not particularly strict so they will let me do my own thing. I hear a lot of commuters say they can’t go on nights out and stuff bc getting back home is a pain but I don’t see why they can’t just crash at a friends house or get an uber?
I do care about making friends and having a social life in uni. Im really not at all sure what I should do and would be so grateful for any help. Is commuting actually that bad, online no one has anything nice to say about it but tbf no one has anything nice to say about anything online.thanks so much

Hi there,

I think that both options can allow you to have a great University experience, whether you are staying on campus or you are staying at home and commuting.

I would try to make a pros and cons list if you can, as this can help you to make an informed decision about whether to live in university accommodation or not.

Also, I have heard of people doing a practice commute to university for a week to see if this is something that they feel they could manage long term.

I hope this helps,

Matt
2nd Year Phyiotherapy Student
Wrexham Uni Reps

Reply 8

LJMUStudentReps

Official Rep

Hi there,

For my undergrad, I lived about an hour away from campus too. After doing the maths and realising I could just about afford it, I chose to move into halls for first year—and I’m really glad I did. It made attending lectures, social events, and nights out much easier, and I ended up making some amazing friends.

I also picked up a part-time job during first year, which helped with expenses. If you decide to move out, I’d recommend applying for part-time roles before Freshers’ Week, as they fill up quickly. In later years, I considered commuting to save money, but ended up working as a Residential Assistant in exchange for reduced rent—so there are alternative ways to keep costs down once you’ve settled in.

I’ve also tried commuting, which takes a bit more planning and effort to stay socially involved. It’s harder to stay for evening events unless you're happy to get Ubers or stay over with friends. You might want to check if Manchester offers short-term accommodation for commuting students during exam periods—some unis do.

Ultimately, think about your priorities for first year: if having that full campus experience and social life is important to you, moving out might feel more worth it—even if it’s financially tighter. But if your gut is saying you'd rather save and you're confident you’ll still get involved, commuting with a solid plan could work just as well.

Out of curiosity, is the £7,000 option the cheapest available? Since you live relatively nearby, it might be worth looking at the most affordable halls—even if that means a shared bathroom. That way, you could stay over when you want to, crash after nights out, and still keep some flexibility to split your time between campus and home.

Hope that helps a bit—and good luck with your decision!

Megan (LJMU Postgraduate Rep)

Reply 9

Sinnoh

Are your parents able to support you financially? The current system assumes that parents do so but has no means of checking/enforcing that they do. How much would you be eligible for from the CYI form? (Also as someone who's used the same form, double-check that they've filled it in correctly!)

In theory you could stay at a friend's house but they might not be able or willing to let you do it every time, and if they're in student accommodation you'd have to remember that halls are pretty strict about no overnight guests being allowed.

I knew people in my course who were commuting from home and were able to maintain a good social life, although they weren't living quite as far away as you would be, and it was in London so public transport was more reliable.

(edited 2 weeks ago)

Reply 10

Manchester Met - Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post by user10294838

Hi im going to start pharmacy at the uni of Manchester this September and am just a bit conflicted as to whether I should commute or move out. I live about 8 miles away from the uni, I don’t have a license and it would take minimum an hour by public transport. The public transport in the city isn’t the best, the bus id get comes once every 30 mins and esp in winter can be delayed. Im not opposed to spending a load on Ubers tbh I should mention. I have been allocated accom which is canterbury court which is 7k (!!) for the year, I get 5.6k for SFE (I am doing the CYI form so I could get more but it’s a gamble bc if my household anticipated earnings don’t match their actual earnings over the next year I could have to pay back the owed SFE upfront asap) I am on a gap year so have around 10k saved up but feel it’s stupid to spend it on uni, and I have to pay the 7k for accom regardless of whether I stay there for the full year or not, which quite frankly seems stupid
My parents are fine with it they do think it’s a bit of a waste of money and that I shouldn’t put myself in unnecessary doubt especially given the current economic climate which is very valid, hence why im asking. Staying out and all isn’t a worry, they’re not particularly strict so they will let me do my own thing. I hear a lot of commuters say they can’t go on nights out and stuff bc getting back home is a pain but I don’t see why they can’t just crash at a friends house or get an uber?
I do care about making friends and having a social life in uni. Im really not at all sure what I should do and would be so grateful for any help. Is commuting actually that bad, online no one has anything nice to say about it but tbf no one has anything nice to say about anything online.thanks so much

Hey!

First, congrats on getting your place at uni to study Pharmacy!
That's a common dilemma that some uni students have, and it's completely understandable to feel conflicted. It sounds like you've weighed up a lot of important factors, and you're right, there's no right or wrong answer. It really comes down to what feels right for you.

From my own experience, I commute to uni and honestly, it's not bad once you get used to it! I was worried too, but it became part of my routine. So, don't feel like commuting automatically means a worse experience.

Weighing your options:
Commuting
Pros: Significant financial savings, comfort of home, potentially less pressure to constantly socialise if that suits your personality. You're spot on about packing lunches and managing money effectively.
Cons: Travel time (especially the bus schedule in winter), and needing to be proactive to engage in campus life sometimes.
Living Out
Pros: Full immersion in the uni environment, often immediate social opportunities (especially in first year accommodation), more independence, and more flexibility for spontaneous social plans.
Cons: The significant cost, the learning curve of living independently and maybe less privacy than at home.

Addressing your concerns:

•

Social life as a commuter: You can have a good social life while commuting. Many students, even those in halls, build their friendships through societies and course activities.

•

Spending: While 7k is a lot, viewing accommodation as an investment in a specific experience can change that perspective. It's about what value you place on that experience vs. the financial saving.

•

Travel Hassle: You're right, getting home can be a pain sometimes(even though I am used to it, it's still annoying lol). For commuters, planning is essential.

It's a big decision, but remember it's your university experience. Your parents' concerns are valid, but so is your desire for the experience you envision. It's great that you're looking into the CYI form for student finance too!

Hope this helps. 😊
Rachel - Undergraduate Multimedia Journalism

(edited 1 week ago)