Living at Home
“Looking back, I’d still choose to live on campus. I’ll remember it fondly"
Will wanted to make the most of university life. Living away from home came with challenges, but he found his feet, made friends and has no regrets.
Will wanted to make the most of university life. Living away from home came with challenges, but he found his feet, made friends and has no regrets.
Name
Will Grimmer
Degree
BSc (Hons) Media Production
Year of Graduation
2026
The reason I chose to live on campus in my first year was the same reason I wanted to go to university in the first place: the university experience. When I decided this was what I wanted after college, the idea of throwing myself into it, whatever “it” actually meant, shaped a lot of my decisions.
Living on campus, away from home, felt like the best way to do that. It meant learning to live on my own without the pressure of it being permanent and doing it alongside hundreds of others trying to figure it out too.
That helped with the loneliness, because when it got hard, I knew I wasn’t the only one feeling that way. If they could do it, so could I. I’d chosen Hull with Norwich University as a backup in case I panicked at the last minute and decided moving far away was too much. Luckily (and a bit shockingly) it never came to that. Once I’d moved in, I found myself surprisingly content with the massive decision I’d just made for the next three years.
While it took some adjusting, I enjoyed adapting to new routines, like shopping and laundry days. They gave me excuses to get out of the flat and wander into campus or the city.
The short walk to lectures took away a lot of stress. I didn’t have to get up early or deal with public transport (although sometimes it was too convenient, and I’d leave it until the very last minute to roll out of bed). Those daily walks were a huge plus for me. Crossing campus in all sorts of weather helped me arrive at my classes feeling ready for the day. Living on campus allowed me to commit myself mentally to my course far more than I think I could have living at home. It might seem like a small thing, but it made it much easier to fully immerse myself in the student experience each trimester.
I enjoyed adapting to new routines, like shopping and laundry days.
Meeting people was hard at first and I struggled to make proper friendships, although I did have lots of friendly one-off interactions during move-in week and at Freshers’ events. It was lonely at times, heightened by the feeling of “what if this never happens?” But it didn’t take long to build natural relationships on my course, helped by all the social spaces around the university, and by the fact that so many of us lived on campus. It meant there was always someone around to chat to or go out with, and it felt safe to do so.
Looking back, if I were to start again, I’d still choose the campus living experience. As long as the financials have been properly considered, it’s always something I’d encourage, even if you live locally. It’s a unique experience and one I’ll always remember fondly.
It didn’t take long to build natural relationships on my course.
Not decided yet? Hear from Emma about her experience of commuting to university.
