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The transition from home to university halls was once considered a pivotal coming-of-age experience.
However, Kirsty Holpin, a university student who resides with her grandmother and commutes to lectures daily, notes that only a small fraction of her classmates actually live on campus.
“The majority of us commute,” states the 23-year-old, representing a growing trend of students who opt to remain at home with family instead of moving into traditional student housing.
Data from UCAS indicates a doubling in the number of students intending to live at home over the past two decades, with escalating rental costs being a primary driver. This shift is also attributed to evolving priorities, with greater emphasis placed on academic pursuits over socializing.
Now in her third year studying psychology and criminology at the University of South Wales, Kirsty undertakes a 35-minute commute from her home in Fochriw, Caerphilly county, to the Treforest campus in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“The pricing [for halls] was exorbitant,” she explained.
“As a family, we weighed the options: stay home, or essentially work tirelessly just to cover rent?”
Kirsty acknowledges that this decision led to a degree of “isolation” regarding social opportunities, but she maintains that she does not regret her choice.
She conceded that living on campus would have enhanced her social life.
“However, I’m not much of a social drinker,” she noted.
“I can always commute to university events when necessary and prioritize those occasions.”
“At home, I benefit from a supportive environment, which allows me to complete assignments effectively. Had I been in university halls, I doubt I would have achieved as much.”
She believes that blended learning has facilitated this trend, with an increasing number of lectures offering remote attendance options.
The reduced need for daily on-campus presence has led some students to adopt unconventional strategies.
“I met a girl last year who commuted from the West Midlands,” Kirsty recounts.
“She explained that booking a hotel room for £90 a night when required was more economical than paying £600 in rent.”
A recent survey by Save The Student found that 15% of UK students now live with parents or guardians, up from 12% in 2020. The average commute time has also increased from 21 to 26 minutes.
“While it may seem like a small change, when considering the total student population in the UK, it represents a significant shift,” according to spokesperson Tom Allingham.
Save The Student reports that students in Wales now spend an average of £473 per month on rent, while the figures for England and Scotland are £556 and £663, respectively.
“This change is not surprising, given factors like housing availability, costs, and utility bills,” says Deio Owen, president of the National Union of Students (NUS) in Wales.
“Recurring stories about issues in student housing also contribute to this narrative, discouraging students from moving into student accommodations.”
Mr. Owen suggests that student priorities have evolved, with many no longer viewing a campus-centric lifestyle as essential to their university experience.
“The traditional perception of university life revolving around drinking and partying is no longer the norm,” he states.
“Students are increasingly choosing to stay in and engage in sober social activities, and student unions play a critical role in facilitating this.
“Therefore, it is crucial that students who choose not to live on or near campus are not excluded from social opportunities.”
Isaac Williams, 20, a Culinary Arts student at Coleg Llandrillo in Conwy, finds that living at home and commuting 15 minutes to campus “simply made sense.”
For him, academic and financial considerations outweigh the importance of socializing.
“My primary goal is to obtain my degree and build a successful career,” he says.
“I maintain a strong social circle outside of university.
“Furthermore, my older brother is also pursuing a university degree while living at home, which makes it a financially sound decision for our family.”
However, at the University of South Wales’ freshers’ event in Cardiff, many students expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to move out of their parents’ homes while studying.
“It was about experiencing independence, a trial run for living on my own,” said Sophie Davies, 20, from Neath.
Her friend, Morgan Lees, 18, from Merthyr Tydfil, added, “Staying at home diminishes the social aspects of university, which were very important to me.”
Sophie Evans, 20, from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, initially lived at home but changed her mind and moved into university accommodation after only a month.
“Everyone was going out and having fun, and I was experiencing intense FOMO [fear of missing out]. I was either booking hotels or staying with friends,” she explained.
“I realized it was better to move out and embrace that sense of independence, which I did – learning to budget and live independently.”
Joe Williams, 20, from Swansea, cited social life as a key factor in his decision to live on campus.
“Being around everyone made it easy,” he said.
“I visit home frequently enough. The costs are manageable, and I return home on weekends for work, so it works out well.”
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