Uni student living at home 'wasn't ready' to move away

A university says a third of students starting courses this year are living at home or commuting to lectures so they can be "financially better off".

The University of Gloucestershire said it had expanded support for students with flexible accommodation available for them to use, discounted travel and that it had created new facilities designed specifically for commuters.

Communications and media student Ofelia Bines grew up in Gloucester and, while she said she wanted to leave the city one day, she explained she "wasn't ready" yet.

"I know I'm better off financially compared to a lot of people living in halls," she said, adding "loads of people" were doing the same thing.

"Most people that I went to school with have stayed in the local area and gone to uni.

"For me, it just didn't make any sense to pay money for accommodation when I'm staying so close and still able to have friends and find that university experience is the best of both worlds," she added.

"I also couldn't leave my dog behind and being close to family is so important".

Taylor Barker, who has started her second year studying forensic psychology, makes a 40-minute commute to lectures at the university's City Campus in Gloucester.

She said studying from home was "a bonus" and financially it worked "out better to commute".

"My family are really important to me, I don't want to lose that connection from moving away," she said.

"It was quite scary, the thought of having to move."

She said she went to look at "a couple of universities a bit further away and I just didn't like it".

"It hasn't stopped me from being independent. You're meeting people in lectures, most of the time you'll find someone similar who commutes from either similar distances, or actually lives quite near you.

"It's just different ways of meeting people."

Stewart Dove, director of student experience at the university, said it was "sad" people were having to make decisions based around the cost of living, but commuting could help "manage the cost of university" and allow students to "continue with a part-time job or stay close to family and friends".

He added: "Our flexible accommodation at Pittville [campus] means students don't necessarily have to choose between moving away or commuting every day, they can live at home but have the option to stay close to campus for up to three nights a week.

"We hope that these options mean that commuter students are supported to easily access everything that the university can offer."