A growing number of university students in the United Kingdom are choosing to live with family rather than move into campus accommodation, a shift driven by higher rents, housing shortages and evolving attitudes toward the university experience. Data from UCAS indicate the share of students who intend to live at home has doubled over the past two decades, signaling a sustained trend rather than a temporary shift.
Campaign group Save The Student reports that 15% of UK university students now live with parents or guardians, up from 12% in 2020. The survey also notes average travel times to campus have lengthened, rising from about 21 minutes to 26 minutes. When broken down regionally, Wales shows lower monthly rent averages for students compared with England and Scotland: about £473 per month in Wales, £556 in England and £663 in Scotland. The figures reflect broader factors such as housing availability and household bills, as well as a shift in how students view the campus experience.
Kirsty Holpin, 23, is in her third year studying psychology and criminology at the University of South Wales. She lives with her grandmother in Fochriw and drives about 35 minutes to the Treforest campus each day. When she first priced halls, the costs were cited as extortionate, so she and her family opted for living at home. The arrangement means she can focus on assignments in a supportive environment, even if it means a more limited social life. Blended learning — with more lectures available remotely — has made the setup easier, she says, though she acknowledges that living at home can feel isolating at times. She adds that she can still attend events on campus when needed and that the decision has helped her academic progress.
Deio Owen, president of the National Union of Students (NUS) in Wales, notes that housing costs and the availability of suitable accommodation are central to the shift. He emphasizes that the traditional campus-lifestyle narrative — including a party-centric image — is not universal among today’s students. He says many attendees are choosing to stay in and pursue “sober socials,” while recognizing that student unions remain crucial for maintaining social opportunities for those who do not live on campus. The broader message, he says, is that universities should ensure students who stay at home still have access to social networks and campus life through unions and events.
Isaac Williams, 20, is enrolled in a Culinary Arts degree at Coleg Llandrillo in Conwy. He says living at home and commuting roughly 15 minutes to campus makes sense financially and academically, noting that his family support and the presence of an older brother also staying at home contribute to the decision. For Isaac, the priority is obtaining a degree and building a career, rather than preserving a typical campus social scene. He emphasizes that his social circle spans multiple facets of his life, not just his university peers.
At the University of South Wales’ freshers event in Cardiff, many students still expressed interest in moving out to experience independence. Sophie Davies, 20, from Neath, said the move represented a chance to practice living independently. Her friend Morgan Lees, 18, from Merthyr Tydfil, added that staying at home can reduce the social advantages of campus living. Sophie Evans, 20, from Pontypridd, initially lived at home but moved into university accommodation after a month, driven by a desire for more social engagement and the budgeting reality of independent living. Joe Williams, 20, from Swansea, said the campus social scene was a key factor in choosing to live on campus, though he still returns home on weekends to work.
The BBC Wales reporting also notes that blended learning has become a common feature across programs, enabling students to attend lectures remotely and choose how often to be on campus. The shift toward staying at home is thus part of a broader recalibration of what constitutes a successful university experience, with academic outcomes and financial considerations taking on greater weight for many students and families. While the trend is evident, it is not universal: thousands of students still seek the independence of campus life, and universities are adapting to ensure that students wherever they live can access social and academic opportunities.
In Wales and beyond, the trend reflects a complex mix of economic pressure and personal preference. As housing costs remain a central concern, the landscape of student life continues to evolve, with families, universities and student unions navigating a new balance between cost, opportunity and community.