Commuting to uni vs living on campus

Hi, I’ve been looking around a few unis recently and started to think about potential accommodation. I live near London, so if I went to a London uni technically I could commute - however I’m not sure whether this is a good idea? The factors persuading me to live at home are the cost (as London is very expensive and I don’t want big loans) and that I’m the eldest in my family (two younger siblings) so I’d be visiting often anyway. Factors pushing me to live on campus include getting experience and being surrounded with people my age (although I’m not much of a party person and don’t want to be kept up by noise!) Does anyone have any advice? Thank you :smile:

Reply 1

LJMUStudentReps

Official Rep

19

Original post

by Anonymous

Hi, I’ve been looking around a few unis recently and started to think about potential accommodation. I live near London, so if I went to a London uni technically I could commute - however I’m not sure whether this is a good idea? The factors persuading me to live at home are the cost (as London is very expensive and I don’t want big loans) and that I’m the eldest in my family (two younger siblings) so I’d be visiting often anyway. Factors pushing me to live on campus include getting experience and being surrounded with people my age (although I’m not much of a party person and don’t want to be kept up by noise!) Does anyone have any advice? Thank you :smile:

Hi!

I hope you are well. Commuting or living on campus at uni is a decision completely up to you and what you feel like will be best for yourself! There is no right or wrong way to do it and there are pros and cons to both aspects.

Commuting as you have said will save you a lot of money especially on things like accommodation and food costs etc. If you are going to be visiting home often then you don't want to be spending a lot of money on accommodation and not spend much time there. As you've mentioned, London is considerably more expensive than most other big cities in the UK so you would see a big difference in money saved if you were to commute. London has very good public transport aswell so commuting could be easily done!

On the other hand not living on campus would mean that you wouldn't meet as many people as you would if you shared a flat with new students or things like that. This isn't a bad thing though as there will be plenty of chances for you to meet people on your course or at any clubs/societies that you might join! If you are not one for going out and partying and do not want to be kept up by noise then I would suggest looking for a quieter accommodation as these are offered and would suit you by the sounds of it! My best advice would be to sit down with a friend or family member and write a pros and cons list for both living on campus and commuting then naturally you will sway towards one over the other. Just keep in mind though that which ever option you decide, you will still have an amazing time at uni and have many opportunities!

I hope this response has helped slightly, let me know if you have any other questions, I am more than happy to help!

Thanks, Matt 🙂
Official LJMU Student Rep

Reply 2

ErasistratusV

21

Only you can decide this.

By commuting you will not gain the full social participation in University nor live the full University experience. How much this matters will depend on your own life and attitudes to this.

If you are not a huge party person as you say then potentially you won't miss much of the above. A sizeable portion of students will not be particularly outwardly social, either as many of them will be trying to complete pretty serious undergrad or postgrad courses.

The main bonus is the cost saving. You'd need to spend a lot of money on trains to get anywhere near the cost of a London student rental, much the same would apply in many cities in the UK. Coming out without a lot of debt may well be a big consideration for many.

Reply 3

Manchester Met - Student Rep

Official Rep

16

Original post

by Anonymous

Hi, I’ve been looking around a few unis recently and started to think about potential accommodation. I live near London, so if I went to a London uni technically I could commute - however I’m not sure whether this is a good idea? The factors persuading me to live at home are the cost (as London is very expensive and I don’t want big loans) and that I’m the eldest in my family (two younger siblings) so I’d be visiting often anyway. Factors pushing me to live on campus include getting experience and being surrounded with people my age (although I’m not much of a party person and don’t want to be kept up by noise!) Does anyone have any advice? Thank you :smile:

Hey there!
This is a common problem that some students face, especially when looking at London – balancing cost with the "experience"! You're thinking about all the right things, and there's no single "best" answer.

•

Commuting Perks: Living at home, especially with younger siblings you'd visit anyway, is a massive money-saver in London – that's a huge plus! You'd still get to enjoy uni life without the big accommodation loans.

•

Campus Life Perks: Living on campus gives you that immediate immersion and constant access to people your age. While there can be a lively social buzz, remember that not everyone's a party person! Different halls can have different atmospheres, so it's worth checking uni websites or forums to see what various accommodation options are like.

•

It's What You Make It! Whether you commute or live on campus, your uni experience will largely be shaped by getting involved. Join societies, connect with coursemates, and make the campus your second home. You'll find your people either way! 🤝

From my own experience, I chose to commute and still had a great social life and full uni experience. The key is just being proactive, whether you live at home or on campus.
Ultimately, it comes down to what feels most comfortable for you and your priorities. Both options can be amazing!
Hope this helps. 😊

Rachel
(Third Year)
Undergraduate Multimedia Journalism

Reply 4

hallamstudents

Official Rep

18

Original post

by Anonymous

Hi, I’ve been looking around a few unis recently and started to think about potential accommodation. I live near London, so if I went to a London uni technically I could commute - however I’m not sure whether this is a good idea? The factors persuading me to live at home are the cost (as London is very expensive and I don’t want big loans) and that I’m the eldest in my family (two younger siblings) so I’d be visiting often anyway. Factors pushing me to live on campus include getting experience and being surrounded with people my age (although I’m not much of a party person and don’t want to be kept up by noise!) Does anyone have any advice? Thank you :smile:

Hi there,

This is quite a common dilemma when people are starting uni so I thought I could just give you some of the general pros of both options! Of course both options come with pros and cons but I know people who have done both and have said both are good ways of living while at uni!

Pros of living at home:

•

You will save a lot of money on accommodation. Accommodation can be very expensive, especially in London so you would save a lot of money with this. It would be worth working out how much your commute would cost you though so you know how much you would be spending.

•

You can see your friends and family more. If you would be visiting a lot anyway, this will save you lots of money on trains and means you can see them more often.

•

It can be a lot more peaceful when you are trying to study and do your work. Home is usually a comfortable environment for people so when it comes down to getting work done and near to exam/deadline season it can be nice being at home.

Pros for living on campus:

•

You will be a lot closer to uni so it will be easier on an everyday basis. You wont have to travel far to get to uni and you will be near to all of the uni amenities like the library, shops etc.

•

You will be living independently which can be really fun. I really enjoyed doing this for the first time and had a good time living with friends, cooking etc!

•

You are closer which makes it easier to join in on spontaneous plans, going out and being part of societies. There is no reason to say you cannot do this if you commute, it is just a little bit easier if you live close to campus and other students.

I hope some of this helps.

Lucy -SHU student ambassador.

Reply 5

ARU Graduate

Official Rep

7

Original post

by Anonymous

Hi, I’ve been looking around a few unis recently and started to think about potential accommodation. I live near London, so if I went to a London uni technically I could commute - however I’m not sure whether this is a good idea? The factors persuading me to live at home are the cost (as London is very expensive and I don’t want big loans) and that I’m the eldest in my family (two younger siblings) so I’d be visiting often anyway. Factors pushing me to live on campus include getting experience and being surrounded with people my age (although I’m not much of a party person and don’t want to be kept up by noise!) Does anyone have any advice? Thank you :smile:

Hey!

I decided to stay at home and commute to uni too, and honestly there are loads of benefits. The biggest one for me was definitely saving money, rentals can be expensive, especially in places like London, and avoiding those high rent prices helped keep my student loan down. Plus, being close to family and my friends from home gave me a really solid support system, which made a big difference, especially in first year.

The downside is that it does take a bit more planning if you want to do things like go on nights out or stay late at the library. I often just stayed over at a friend’s place if I knew I’d be out late..made things easier and meant I didn’t miss out on social stuff!

That said, living in student accommodation can be great for meeting people and getting stuck into uni life more quickly. Even if you’re not a big party person, it can be nice being around people your own age and having that bit of independence.

Whatever you decide now doesn’t have to be set in stone either! I know quite a few people from my course who switched things up after first year, whether that was moving out or moving back home.

Just go with what feels right for you at the moment.

Good luck with everything!

Sophie 🙂

Reply 6

CatLover1

13

I commute to university in London. It's about an hour for me. 15 mins walk, 35 mins tube, 10 mins walk.

Sometimes I try to do some preliminary reading on the tube, but I have to do it on my phone, cos I can't get my laptop out. For this, I just skim read it and understand what it is talking about. It makes it quicker to do the detailed reading later. I also do some preliminary research for essays and get some ideas of what to write about. Or I just stare at nothing and zone out.

I personally don't drink or like parties, so I don't feel I miss out on much by commuting. It took more effort for me to make friends. I had people I would talk to in first semester, but no one I would call a friend. Then I gained some friends in second semester. It helped that I had a lot of people from my sixth form come to my university and we all commute (but at different times so we don't see each other a huge amount).

I'd say attend society events. The ones I attended were generally during the day, which was good.

I try to make my days on campus as productive as possible, so I spend a lot of time in the library looking at the various books.

Reply 7

Uni of Kent 1

Official Rep

7

Original post

by Anonymous

Hi, I’ve been looking around a few unis recently and started to think about potential accommodation. I live near London, so if I went to a London uni technically I could commute - however I’m not sure whether this is a good idea? The factors persuading me to live at home are the cost (as London is very expensive and I don’t want big loans) and that I’m the eldest in my family (two younger siblings) so I’d be visiting often anyway. Factors pushing me to live on campus include getting experience and being surrounded with people my age (although I’m not much of a party person and don’t want to be kept up by noise!) Does anyone have any advice? Thank you :smile:

Hi!
I totally understand your dilemma. I went through the same when I was deciding and I actually chose to live at home. I have been commuting for 2 years and it's working out well for me.
Even though I didn’t live in student accommodation, I still had a good social life. I made sure to attend most Welcome Week events which helped me meet loads of people. I also joined societies where I met people with similar interests. There are so many daytime and evening events on my campus so returning home after attending them was not an issue.
I think the key to making friends as a commuter is being proactive and attending the socials where you would be surrounded by other students. And since you’re not too interested in partying, living at home could be a great balance in terms of saving money, staying close to family, and still having a fun uni experience.
That said, living on campus definitely has its perks too. It can be a great way to experience independence, bonding with flat mates, getting out of your comfort zone and be close to everything such as lectures, the library, societies, and spontaneous hangouts. Some people really enjoy the convenience and the full student life vibe it offers.
In the end, it depends on your priorities, for me living at home worked great but it could be different for others🙂

Reply 8

City UoL Rep 4

Official Rep

8

Original post

by Anonymous

Hi, I’ve been looking around a few unis recently and started to think about potential accommodation. I live near London, so if I went to a London uni technically I could commute - however I’m not sure whether this is a good idea? The factors persuading me to live at home are the cost (as London is very expensive and I don’t want big loans) and that I’m the eldest in my family (two younger siblings) so I’d be visiting often anyway. Factors pushing me to live on campus include getting experience and being surrounded with people my age (although I’m not much of a party person and don’t want to be kept up by noise!) Does anyone have any advice? Thank you :smile:

Hey! 😊

I’ve been commuting from home while studying at City St George’s, so I’ve thought about this quite a bit. There’s no one “right” choice, it really depends on your priorities, budget, and what you want from your uni experience. Here are some things to think about:

Budget: Can you comfortably afford rent, bills, food, and travel if you move out? Staying at home can save you a lot, but weigh that up with what you might miss out on.

Commute: How long would it take, and would delays make it stressful? Personally, I rarely have issues, but cancellations and delays do happen, so it’s worth having backup plans.

Social life: Moving out can make it easier to join evening events, but commuting doesn’t mean missing out. I stayed at home and still had a great social life. I joined societies, made friends, and in my second year became president of a society while still attending events and nights out. It’s all about being intentional with your time.

Independence: Do you want the experience of living alone and managing everything yourself, or would you be happy easing into independence while at home? If you stay home, you can still create independence by planning with your family so you do some things yourself. Being at home during exam season was a huge help, it took some pressure off when I was too busy or stressed to cook.

Study environment: Will you have a quiet space to work at home, or would moving out give you more focus?

At the end of the day, both options have pros and cons. I’d recommend making a simple pros and cons list or even trying a “trial week” where you commute as if you were already at uni, it can give you a feel for whether it’s sustainable.

Hope this helps you think it through.Goodluck!

Reply 9

VelvetMoon

7

Original post

by Manchester Met - Student Rep

Hey there!
This is a common problem that some students face, especially when looking at London – balancing cost with the "experience"! You're thinking about all the right things, and there's no single "best" answer.

•

Commuting Perks: Living at home, especially with younger siblings you'd visit anyway, is a massive money-saver in London – that's a huge plus! You'd still get to enjoy uni life without the big accommodation loans.

•

Campus Life Perks: Living on campus gives you that immediate immersion and constant access to people your age. While there can be a lively social buzz, remember that not everyone's a party person! Different halls can have different atmospheres, so it's worth checking uni websites or forums to see what various accommodation options are like.

•

It's What You Make It! Whether you commute or live on campus, your uni experience will largely be shaped by getting involved. Join societies, connect with coursemates, and make the campus your second home. You'll find your people either way! 🤝

From my own experience, I chose to commute and still had a great social life and full uni experience. The key is just being proactive, whether you live at home or on campus.
Ultimately, it comes down to what feels most comfortable for you and your priorities. Both options can be amazing!
Hope this helps. 😊
Rachel
(Third Year)
Undergraduate Multimedia Journalism

My main concern is missing the Freshers week. I'm not a big club person but I don't want to be the only one not going and getting the 'Freshers experience' because I commute and my parents really want me on the 8pm or 9pm train home at the latest for safety reasons etc.

Commuting to uni vs living on campus

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