Commuting to uni
Reply 1
Hi there.
I didn't commute to uni myself, but I had quite a few friends that did so I thought I would still answer this with some of my tips!
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Practice the commute beforehand. It's a good idea to have a go at doing it at peak times (if you started at 9am or finished at 5pm) just so you can get a feel for it and see how long it will take with the traffic.
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Don't rush off as soon as your lectures are finished. I know it can be tempting to just get home, but if you can and people are staying around for a bit, stay with them and see if they want to go for a coffee or something to get to know them and get involved.
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If you are commuting by public transport, use the time to get a little bit of work done. I know it's not easy but if you have any easier bits to do or anything you can do without wifi, it is a good time to do it.
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See if you meet anyone who commutes the same way, and go together! Sometimes there will be commuter groups chats on social media for your uni so see if you meet anyone on there who you might want to go with if your timetables are similar.
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Still get involved with as much as you can. Even though you are further away, still join societies or go to any events that you want to go to. There is no reason you cannot do this so make the most of all of the opportunities.
I hope some of this helps,
Lucy - SHU student ambassador 🙂
Reply 2
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If you have headphones, definitely bring those every day as it can get quite loud on things like public transport. Listening to music is a good way to start off your day or even a podcast.
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If you are using public transport look at what kind of discounts are available for your travel as a student. 16-25 rail card is really great if your travelling by train however it doesn’t discount peak travel which is often when you will be travelling.
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Depending on the city/area you are in, there is sometimes a student travel card available such as in London with a student Oyster card.
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Some universities also have travel bursaries so I would look into that.
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If you are driving to university, look at where you can park at your campus and see if you need to apply for a parking pass at all.
Let me know if you have any other questions as I have lots of top tips for long commutes
— student rep Vee
Reply 3
•
If you have headphones, definitely bring those every day as it can get quite loud on things like public transport. Listening to music is a good way to start off your day or even a podcast.
•
If you are using public transport look at what kind of discounts are available for your travel as a student. 16-25 rail card is really great if your travelling by train however it doesn’t discount peak travel which is often when you will be travelling.
•
Depending on the city/area you are in, there is sometimes a student travel card available such as in London with a student Oyster card.
•
Some universities also have travel bursaries so I would look into that.
•
If you are driving to university, look at where you can park at your campus and see if you need to apply for a parking pass at all.
Let me know if you have any other questions as I have lots of top tips for long commutes
— student rep Vee
Reply 4
— Vee (Kingston rep)
Reply 5
— Vee (Kingston rep)
Reply 6
Hey!
As a commuter, I can tell you that it takes some time to get used to the routine, but don't worry, it's totally doable.
Here are a few tips I've learned that have really helped me:
•
Plan Your Travel: Work out which public transport is best for you and check if they have a student travel pass for the term. It saves a lot of money and hassle.
•
Plan for Your Timetable: When you get your timetable, work out what time you need to leave to get to uni early. Arriving a bit ahead of time helps you avoid stress and rush hour.
•
Avoid Rush Hour: When your class ends, try to leave as soon as possible, if you can, so you don't get stuck in traffic on the way home.
Rachel
(Third year)
Multimedia Journalism
Reply 7
As a commuter, I can tell you that it takes some time to get used to the routine, but don't worry, it's totally doable.
Here are a few tips I've learned that have really helped me:
•
Plan Your Travel: Work out which public transport is best for you and check if they have a student travel pass for the term. It saves a lot of money and hassle.
•
Plan for Your Timetable: When you get your timetable, work out what time you need to leave to get to uni early. Arriving a bit ahead of time helps you avoid stress and rush hour.
•
Avoid Rush Hour: When your class ends, try to leave as soon as possible, if you can, so you don't get stuck in traffic on the way home.
Rachel
(Third year)
Multimedia Journalism
Thank you very much Rachel ❤️
Reply 8
Ah that's a bit rough, I used to do that for sixth form but it does give you time to wake up 😂. If you still have your young persons Oyster card (the green one), its possible to renew it for another year if you take it to the information desk when you come to Kingston, that should give you cheaper travel.
-- Vee (Kingston rep)
Reply 9
I commuted all through uni and honestly, it worked out really well for me. There are some great benefits, I saved loads of money, and I liked having family and friends nearby for support. It didn’t affect my uni experience at all! Yes, it takes a little more planning since you’re not right there on campus, but once I made friends, I’d often just crash at theirs if I knew it’d be a late night out.
My journey was about 45 minutes and I actually got used to it really quickly, it became my time to switch off and unwind after a busy day. One tip I’d definitely recommend is doing a “dummy run” of the trip before your first day. I’ve done this for uni and every new job I’ve started, whether it’s by public transport or driving and it really takes the edge off those first-day nerves.
Also, remember the decision isn’t permanent. Loads of people I knew changed things up in second year…some moved home and commuted, others moved closer into student accommodation. You can always try commuting first and then see how it feels.
Good luck! I’m sure you’ll make it work either way!
Sophie 🙂
Reply 10
You welcome😊
Reply 11
I commuted all through uni and honestly, it worked out really well for me. There are some great benefits, I saved loads of money, and I liked having family and friends nearby for support. It didn’t affect my uni experience at all! Yes, it takes a little more planning since you’re not right there on campus, but once I made friends, I’d often just crash at theirs if I knew it’d be a late night out.
My journey was about 45 minutes and I actually got used to it really quickly, it became my time to switch off and unwind after a busy day. One tip I’d definitely recommend is doing a “dummy run” of the trip before your first day. I’ve done this for uni and every new job I’ve started, whether it’s by public transport or driving and it really takes the edge off those first-day nerves.
Also, remember the decision isn’t permanent. Loads of people I knew changed things up in second year…some moved home and commuted, others moved closer into student accommodation. You can always try commuting first and then see how it feels.
Good luck! I’m sure you’ll make it work either way!
Sophie 🙂
Thank you very much for you help Sophie
Reply 12
I lived in halls for my first 2 years and now I’m commuting so I am try to give some advice.
Firstly, get organised! The morning commutes are so much easier if you have your bag ready, lunch prepared and trains booked. The morning sets the tone for the day so getting organised the night before can really make the day so much smoother.
If you are planning on travelling by train I would recommend looking into student railcards. Theses are around £30 and save you so much money throughout the year.
In terms of building connections across campus, commuting can make this more challenging. I would recommend getting involved in as many Student union activities as possible. This is a great way to meet people and the events are usually free or discounted. I would also suggest joining a society as this is a great way to meet people and the schedules socials every week make it easier to plan your week.
When it comes to academic support I would check if your university offers any remote workshops or seminars. My university offers frequent online classes on things such as essay writing, dissertation writing, statistics ect. These are a great way to support your learning without travelling hours just for a short academic support session.
Personally I think commuting is a great option as it gives you the uni experience but without being skint all the time lol. Also it’s great to have the comfort of seeing your family and home friends all the time!
Best of luck for September and remember to enjoy every minute as it genuinely flys by!
Tilly
LJMU Student.
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