My name is Madi and I’m going into my second year of university studying Spanish and Linguistics (with a year abroad). I live around 19 miles away from university, or an hour by bus. Despite being a commuter, I found that I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything in my first year!
Commuting was the right choice for me. I can have a true uni and home life balance whilst spending time with my dad and my dogs. I also knew I would save money, which I can then put towards my year abroad, and not have any potential money worries. Here are some reasons why I think you should consider commuting (if possible) and how you can still get that ‘uni experience’ while being a commuter!
Making friends at Uni as a commuter is possible
Like many other commuters, I was quite worried at first about whether or not I was making the right decision. I had convinced myself that ‘people would’ve already made so many friends’ and I would miss out on the ‘uni experience.’ This really isn’t true! If you make an effort, making friends won’t be difficult.
If this is something you are still worried about, York offers an event called Step Ahead for those eligible which includes commuters. During the event you have the chance to make new friends, go on campus tours, get tips and advice from current students, and get answers to any questions you may have. For more information please see Step Ahead York.
Talking to people in seminars is a great way to connect with people as you already have things in common by studying the same subject. At York there are also over 200 societies and sports clubs you join. Although in first year I chose not to join any clubs or societies, I can say these would be an incredible way to meet other people. They can also be a great distraction when you need one too! This year I will definitely be joining a society.
I save a lot of money by commuting to university
The bus is currently capped at £3 for a single. For me to attend uni five days a week, it cost me £660 (22 teaching weeks included only). However, as of January 2027, the price will be capped at £2 for a single and will cost me £550. Despite this I still have a full maintenance loan, so I can do what I want whenever I want to. At home my dad doesn’t charge me proper rent. Instead I cover any costs of what I need and want, my phone bill and wifi. Ultimately, I save a significant amount as I don’t pay accommodation costs.
There’s lots of options for what you can do between lectures/seminars
In between seminars and lectures there’s a few things I like to do. Sometimes I will just catch the bus home. My bus ride is an hour one way so if I have enough time to also spend a few hours at home too, I will. In semester one, I spent a considerable amount of time in the library. However, around exam season the library gets very full and this meant that I had to find other places to study. This is when I started studying in the faculty building and the Spring Lane Building (the powerhouse of UOY in my opinion). I also enjoy visiting the library cafe with my friends.
You can also either take the uni bus or walk into town. This is something I didn’t take advantage of enough in first year but definitely will this year. Time between lectures/seminars is a great time to either get to know your friends better or even just get ahead with uni work. I have a friend who would even go to work between her seminars!
You could even explore campus. In the warmer months, me and my friend sat outside at Greg’s Place enjoying the sun and catching up while we worked and ate together.
Remember you don’t have to miss out just because you commute. If you make an effort and get involved you will have a great time at uni!
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