More Students Opting for Commuter Life Amidst Rising Living Costs
An increasing number of university students are choosing to live at home and commute to campus due to the escalating cost of accommodation and daily expenses.
The traditional university experience of moving away from home is shifting for a growing segment of students who are opting to stay with family and commute to lectures. This trend is largely attributed to the increasing cost of living, which makes independent accommodation unaffordable for many.
Data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) indicates a significant rise in students intending to live at home. In 2017, 535,090 individuals planned to reside at home during their university course, a figure projected to reach 748,060 by 2026, marking an increase of 39.8%.
Bethany Fearne, a second-year law student at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), stated that it is considerably more economical to live in Sittingbourne and travel to campus than to secure accommodation nearby. She believes that living off-campus does not hinder her engagement with university life, citing her participation in activities like the Colour Run as evidence.
Ez Spring, a second-year sports therapy student, commutes 40 minutes each way to university. She finds benefits in her arrangement, noting that her drive offers a period of relaxation before classes and allows her to remain with her family while maintaining her job.
According to Ucas figures, over 81,000 UK 18-year-olds accepted university offers with the intention of living at home this year. Dr. Susan Kenyon, a principal lecturer in politics at CCCU, observed that this trend has been evident in higher education for several years.
Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, links the rise in commuter students directly to the cost of living crisis. He highlighted that beyond tuition fees, rent is the most substantial expense, with monthly costs potentially reaching £1,000 in some areas. Even the maximum maintenance loan may not suffice to cover both rent and daily living expenses.
Hillman also pointed out the dual nature of being a commuter student. While living at home can help maintain valuable support networks of family and friends, it may also mean less immersion in the full campus experience. He noted that some universities are adapting by reducing on-campus attendance to three days a week or offering alternative accommodation options.
