Commuting was the best choice for Emma. She had a settled routine and wasn't ready to move out. She’s kept her part-time job, made new friends and embraced university life.
Name
Emma Conway
Degree
BSc (Hons) Psychology
Year of Graduation
2027
I chose to commute to university rather than live on campus for a few simple reasons, and the biggest one was routine. I’d had the same part-time job since I was 16 and didn’t want to give it up. It was comfortable and easy to carry on.
I also just wasn’t ready to move out. Staying at home felt more comfortable, and the idea of using the university as a base to study, meet people and do things from suited me much better than suddenly living somewhere new. And then there was the cost. I’d bought a car just before starting uni. Coming from a small town, it was more important to have my own way of getting around than a room on campus.
I did expect to miss out on things, and I had some worries about making close friends. But in reality, the distance between home and campus has worked for me. It helps me separate uni work from relaxing. When I leave campus, I’m done for the day. And the fear of not making friends pushed me to try harder — something I’m not sure I’d have done if I’d been surrounded by people 24/7.
I wasn’t bothered about joining societies or going out every night, so I never felt like I was giving anything up. And when I do want to go out, most of my friends live near campus, so I just stay over. There’s always a way around the distance. People make commuting sound like a massive obstacle, but honestly, it’s not.
When I do want to go out, most of my friends live near campus so I just stay over.
I live about 40 minutes away, so I leave an hour before lectures. Between classes I either go to the library or grab lunch with friends. It depends on the day. After lectures I usually head straight home, unless I’ve got loads of assignments to get through or something social planned. Once I’m home, I relax. One thing I love is that all my uni work stays at uni, and I don’t have to do anything when I’m home.
Commuting has shaped my experience in ways I didn’t expect. I like having separate spaces for different parts of my life. I like being able to drive in and have that time to myself (same on the way back). I like keeping my job and having home friends and uni friends as two distinct parts of my life.
It’s not the typical uni experience, but that’s kind of the point. I didn’t want to be in a society or go out every other night. Yes, I have to plan things more than someone who lives five minutes away, so socials are usually arranged at least a day ahead. And late finishes (anything past four) means I hit commuter traffic, which can stretch the journey to an hour. But it’s manageable.
If I had to choose again, I’d make the same decision without hesitation. Staying at home and keeping my routine helped me settle into uni faster than I expected. People say commuting means you’ll miss out on everything, but that’s definitely not true. You miss some things, sure, but uni is what you make it.
And the best part? I’ve been able to get involved on my own terms. I waited until second year to become a student ambassador because that’s when I felt ready. I like that I haven’t had to rush. Commuting gave me the space to grow into uni life in a way that felt right for me.
Commuting has shaped my experience in ways I didn’t expect. I like having separate spaces for different parts of my life.
Not decided yet? Hear from Will about his experience of living on campus.
