When students think about going to university, they typically think that they must move away from home and stay in accommodation or a house close to campus. Now whilst a large number choose to do this, many just commute to campus from home. 

I myself am a commuting student and I’m going to talk you through my experience and why I chose this option for my university experience. 

I live local to campus (around a 50 minute bus journey, a 30 minute train journey and roughly the same in a car). Choosing to commute was the best option for me and a lot factored into my decision to do this.

First of all, I wasn’t particularly comfortable with living with people I didn’t know. I like my own space and having things a certain a way. I know that when moving into accommodation you have to share certain areas, and this was something that I knew I would grow frustrated with. Also, the university is great at helping you feel like part of the community, so I never feel like I’m missing out!

However, that’s just me, I have many friends who live in halls and have grown amazing friendships with their housemates. You can also find your future flatmates through Unibuddy community or group chats.

Second of all, commuting was actually a cheaper option for me as the commuting prices across the year are cheaper than that of accommodation.

Although this is not the case for all students if they are moving away from a home which is far away. That’s why BNU, depending on the accommodation chosen, prices vary - but it’s worth mentioning it is very affordable. There are also support systems in place at the university to help students with anything from accommodation and money to mental health and disability support.

So, how do I do it?

Commuting will vary on the days and timetabling so it is very important to be prepared. I have a very sporadic sleep schedule so having a million alarms set is important for me.

It is also important to pack my bag as much as possible the night before. This saves time in the morning. I also lay all my clothes out so I don’t have to rummage through drawers and the wardrobe in a rush. It’s definitely about finding a routine that suites you.

Ease of commute

Relying on public transport can sometimes be stressful, however it can still be manageable. Sometimes buses do not turn up or are running late so it is important to plan with a little wriggle room - better to be early than late!

If even with wriggle room nothing is going to plan, emailing the tutor helps. It lets them know that you are on your way and that you’re most likely walking in part way through their session. 

If you’re an Uxbridge area student BNU provide a free shuttle bus between the campuses, all you need is your student ID card. 

Student Life

As a commuting student it’s easy to assume I’d miss social events. However, this is not the case! 

Thanks to the transport links, I can still be part of the late nights that happen at the venue, the societies and clubs. Before a night out though it’s worth checking to see what links are around and the latest times they run to. 

Even just a quick catch up with mates is still possible with the range of transport available.

So, life as a commuting student can be stressful but I’m happy I do it. The university provides many opportunities to support me as a commuting student and I’m still involved in the university’s opportunities and social life too!