Rise in 'commuter students' due to living costs

ByOliver Whitfield-MiocicReporting fromin Canterbury and Hsin-Yi LoSouth East

Attending university has traditionally been a rite of passage that involves moving away from home and transitioning into an independent life.

However, the reality is different for a growing number of students who say they will instead be staying at home and travelling to their seminars due to the cost of living.

In 2017, 535,090 people said they intended to live at home during their university course compared with 748,060 in 2026 - an increase of 39.8%, according to figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas).

Bethany Fearne, a second year law student, said it was "significantly cheaper" to stay at home in Sittingbourne and drive to Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) than live on campus.

She said she believed living outside of university "made no difference" in terms of immersing herself in university life.

"I don't feel like I miss out at all," she said. " I get involved in activities like the Colour Run."

Ez Spring, a second year sports therapy student, drives 40 minutes each way to university and sees the benefits of living at home.

"When I am driving, it's a nice time to relax before attending classes," she said.

"I can stay at home with my family and keep my job."

This year, more than 81,000 UK 18-year-olds said in their accepted university application they intended to live at home, according to Ucas figures.

Dr Susan Kenyon, principal lecturer in politics at CCCU, said: "We have seen this trend across many years now in higher education. "

Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, said the gradual growth of commuter students was linked to the cost of living.

"Aside from tuition fees, the single biggest cost is rent where you can pay up to £1,000 a month depending where you live," he said.

"Even if you receive the maximum maintenance loan rate, it may not be enough to cover both rent and other daily expenditures."

Hillman said there were advantages and disadvantages to being a commuter student.

"If you live at home, you are more likely to keep your network of family and friends, and other support network," he said.

"However, you may be not immersing in campus life experience.

"Some universities are adapting to this commuter student trend by reducing on-campus attendance to three days a week and offering hotel-style accommodation."

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