Commuting within Cornwall

I currently live in Bodmin, almost in the centre and I don’t want to move out just yet so my top choices for environmental science are Exeter, Penryn campus and Plymouth. Plymouth is 48mins commute from train but Penryn campus is just over 2 hours. Ideally I’d love to go Exeter but the commute is a putting me off slightly

Has anyone else done a similar commute and how do you find it? I don’t drive just yet so I’m hoping to be able to drive by next April so I’ll still have to get the bus to the train station which is annoyingly 25mins extra.

Reply 1

Muttley79

Original post

by kenziesmith7

I currently live in Bodmin, almost in the centre and I don’t want to move out just yet so my top choices for environmental science are Exeter, Penryn campus and Plymouth. Plymouth is 48mins commute from train but Penryn campus is just over 2 hours. Ideally I’d love to go Exeter but the commute is a putting me off slightly
Has anyone else done a similar commute and how do you find it? I don’t drive just yet so I’m hoping to be able to drive by next April so I’ll still have to get the bus to the train station which is annoyingly 25mins extra.

Exeter does offer catered accomodation which would make moving out less daunting.

Reply 2

University of Plymouth Undergraduate Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post

by kenziesmith7

I currently live in Bodmin, almost in the centre and I don’t want to move out just yet so my top choices for environmental science are Exeter, Penryn campus and Plymouth. Plymouth is 48mins commute from train but Penryn campus is just over 2 hours. Ideally I’d love to go Exeter but the commute is a putting me off slightly
Has anyone else done a similar commute and how do you find it? I don’t drive just yet so I’m hoping to be able to drive by next April so I’ll still have to get the bus to the train station which is annoyingly 25mins extra.

Hey there! 😊 I'm a current Plymouth student and, although I don't currently commute to university, I definitely understand your situation. I know quite a few people that commute now instead of staying in student accommodation so you definitely aren't alone there!

Depending on the course and requirements for in-person sessions, it can definitely vary with how many days-per-week you're in lectures, doing fieldwork, or having practical sessions/group work. Some days I have completely off (to do independent work at home) and other days I might have 1-4 or so sessions at university for that day, so it definitely varies which is worth considering for your commutes (as some days you might not need to be in but you could also have a much fuller timetable!)

Personally, 48 minutes on the train definitely doesn't sound like the longest commute I've heard someone take to university (by far!) but it depends on your preferences; if you like travelling, and if you don't mind the extra time involved, go for it! Plus, you could always get some extra studies done during your commute 😁

It might also be worth taking the journey to and from Plymouth, perhaps on an open day, to get a feel for the route/travel and if that's something you'd be keen to do up to 5 days per week.

If you're open to student accommodation though, Plymouth also has a range of different private and university-managed options, including catered halls, different preference flats, ranging group sizes, solo studio flats, and more, so it's worth keeping an eye out to see if there are any options for you! You can also chat to the accommodation team on an open day or reach out on [email protected] if you have any questions or doubts about student accommodation. 🏠️

(Environmental science is also a great course and I've heard lots of good things! I'm a zoology student so know a little bit about the subject area etc. so feel free to let me know if there's anything you're keen to find out!) 🌱

Best of luck making your decisions and if you have any questions about the university at all, feel free to reach out and I'd be happy to help 🙂

-Alfie, University of Plymouth Undergraduate Student Rep

Reply 3

ExeterStudentRep

Official Rep

Original post

by kenziesmith7

I currently live in Bodmin, almost in the centre and I don’t want to move out just yet so my top choices for environmental science are Exeter, Penryn campus and Plymouth. Plymouth is 48mins commute from train but Penryn campus is just over 2 hours. Ideally I’d love to go Exeter but the commute is a putting me off slightly
Has anyone else done a similar commute and how do you find it? I don’t drive just yet so I’m hoping to be able to drive by next April so I’ll still have to get the bus to the train station which is annoyingly 25mins extra.

Hi Kenzie,

Great to hear about your interest in studying at the University of Exeter's Penryn Campus. As I'm sure your aware Cornwall is a fantastic place to live and study, particularly if you're interested in environmental subjects. I studied Zoology for my undergraduate degree here, and have loved it so much that I've stayed on for a Masters and PhD too.

As you've mentioned in your post, the commute from Bodmin to Penryn is unfortunately quite long by bus or train. 2 hours travel each way will add up to a considerable amount of time over the week, especially in first year when you typically have a higher number of contact hours and scheduled activities like lectures, seminars and labs. Travelling such a distance may also make it harder to engage in some activities such as sports clubs and societies, and limit your involvement in the social side of university life. It is worth thinking carefully about the trade-offs of living closer to campus vs commuting from further away. We have a range of different accommodation options, including self-catered vs catered, and at different price points, which may make living at university more attractive depending on your initial reasons for not wanting to do so.

When you manage to pass your test and are able to drive, that makes the equation quite different, as a 40 minute drive feels like a more manageable commute given the frequency with which you'd be expected to travel to campus and back. If you choose this option, you will be eligible for a parking permit on campus as these are available to students based on need and how far they live from campus.

If you haven't already done so, I'd encourage you to consider visiting the Penryn Campus and the surrounding area of Penryn and Falmouth. This could be done on an open-day, offer-holder visit day, or by booking onto one of our regular campus tour slots through our website. I found that after visiting the campus for the first time it made the idea of moving away from home and living there a lot less daunting, and helped make the process of moving away from home a lot easier. Depending on your initial reasons for wanting to stay in Bodmin, this might be valuable in helping you in the same way too. I'd also mention that moving away from home for university doesn't mean leaving forever, and there would still be plenty of opportunities to head back home during the weekends, reading week, and holiday periods.

I hope that information is helpful, and given you some more things to consider. I appreciate deciding where to go to university, and whether to leave home, is a big decision and there is lots to think about. Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any further questions or if there is anything else I can help you with.

Kingsley
University of Exeter Student Ambassador