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For Lucy Brazier, a second-year business management student, commuting to university was an easy decision. She lives near Colchester, where the University of Essex is based. “[It] was the obvious choice for my course once I weighed up the costs,” she says.
And with overnight accommodation available on campus, she feels she gets the best of both worlds. “I can book a room at less than a day’s notice for £35 so I don’t have to drive home. I’ve used it after nights out, and the evening before exams so I don’t have the stress of driving in the morning. It’s been really helpful.”
Brazier is far from alone. More students are choosing to live at home while studying, and universities are increasingly adapting their courses and campuses to make commuting easier.
According to Ucas, 612,690 UK students aged 18 to 20 who applied before 14 January 2026 made at least one application stating that they intended to live at home – up 8% from last year’s figure of 569,880.
With commuter students now a significant presence on campus, Universities UK chief executive Vivienne Stern says the traditional model of student life is changing. “Universities are evolving to meet the needs of learners. Many offer flexible ways to access learning and resources, or adjust students’ timetables to suit those with longer commutes or other responsibilities.”
Amira Campbell, former president of the National Union of Students, says the trend has been building for more than a decade. In some cases, this is because students simply cannot afford the residential university experience any more. Many are students from non-traditional backgrounds accessing higher education for the first time, who prefer to stay close to home.
Universities have responded in practical ways. Manuel Souto-Otero, from the School of Education at the University of Bristol, says many institutions now timetable teaching on fewer days so students are not travelling in for a single lecture or seminar, while also reducing long gaps between classes. Extracurricular activities are increasingly scheduled in the afternoon rather than the evening and many administrative services have also moved online, reducing the need for students to make unnecessary trips to campus.
“Universities have improved transport to campus and parking options,” he adds. “They have changed campus spaces, in some cases opening new facilities close to bus and train stations where possible, and creating university buildings where students can work, socialise or rest between lectures.”
The University of Essex, for example, has introduced day rooms where commuter students can rest, store belongings and prepare hot food and drinks, as well as an off-peak gym membership designed around commuter travel patterns. At the University of Leeds, the commuter society organises events that finish before 8pm so students can still get home easily.
Changes like these also benefit students balancing study with work. If teaching is concentrated into two or three days, the remaining days can be used for paid employment.
Even so, commuting has its downsides. Time spent travelling quickly adds up, particularly where public transport is unreliable. “Around one in nine students spend more than six hours commuting each week,” says Souto-Otero. “Students who commute are also more likely than other students to say they received a lower grade than expected because they cut down on going to campus.”
George Charlton, 25, who studies economics at Manchester Metropolitan University, recognises the trade-off. “I was going into lectures thinking, ‘How quickly can I get on the train to get back?’”
Things have improved, he says, since the university introduced monthly commuter “chat and chill” sessions, helping students build a sense of community. It is also trialling post-lecture commuter sessions so students can stay on campus and avoid the rush-hour crush. “There’s definitely a demand for it,” he says.
There are plenty of compromise options, too. A degree is a three-year endeavour, and living in halls for the first year is a good way to establish connections early on, before moving back home. Another strategy is living farther away from the city centre in more affordable areas, or choosing a university where accommodation is cheaper.
For many students, though, university is still about leaving home altogether. It’s a chance to experience a different part of the country, meet new people and become more independent. “Not everyone is lucky enough to have their dream university on their doorstep,” says Campbell. “Moving away from home can open up more options for universities and courses.”
Gina Tindale, 22, is president of the Newcastle University students’ union. She says halls are designed with student life in mind and make it much easier to build that sense of community from the start. “There are gyms, cinema rooms, game rooms with pool tables. You can have a social experience and you don’t have to worry about train times.”
All this comes with financial challenges. Alongside maintenance loans and grants, many universities now offer hardship funds and bursaries to help with everyday living costs, while student unions provide support for activities outside the classroom. Student loans rarely cover the full cost of living, meaning parents remain an important source of financial support for many students, and paid work has become the norm for around two-thirds, so choosing a university with good local employment opportunities can make a real difference.
For those living in private accommodation, the Renters’ Rights Act means student tenancies in the private sector are becoming rolling agreements, allowing tenants to leave by giving two months’ notice. The change gives students greater flexibility if their circumstances change.
Financial considerations are only part of the picture. Moving away to study can also bring longer-term benefits, such as access to stronger academic departments, better internship opportunities and richer extracurricular experiences. According to recent research by Savanta, students travelling for 45 minutes or more were consistently more likely to report practical, academic and social challenges.
They were also more likely to miss out on the wider student experiences. “All of these are beneficial because they enhance your profile,” says Souto-Otero. “At a time when having a degree is not enough by itself, the quality of learning and additional experiences become important differentiating factors.”
Nick Hillman, chief executive of the Higher Education Policy Institute, thinks students should look beyond the immediate costs and consider the bigger picture. “When all other things are equal, it is generally better to cast your net wide and consider the full social and educational benefits that come from living in halls with other students.”
