Despite the ‘university experience’ students wish to participate in during their time in higher education, a 2022 survey showed that almost 430,000 students stayed home. As a home student myself, there were big benefits of living at home as a university student compared to living on campus, from finances to skipping those not-so-great experiences in student accommodation. From my perspective, here are the top five benefits of being a home student.
1. The money problem becomes less of a problem
The biggest reason why students stay at home is because it’s a financially viable option. Firstly, you have the opportunity to reduce future debt by reducing the amount of loans you receive. Personally, I was lucky enough to only apply for the tuition loan since the income I earned from my part-time job allowed me to go through university without a maintenance loan. However, if this isn’t possible, the maintenance loan you receive doesn’t have to be the maximum. The amount you apply for could instead be used towards other necessities such as commuting or paying a set rent agreed upon by you and your parents (or a night out, whatever floats your boat).
Secondly, however, the amount you receive might not be enough if you live away from home. A 2024 National Student Money survey found an average student spends £1104 a month, with £540 going towards rent. Because of this, living as a student tends to be constrictive financially. Therefore, you may have to consider any income outside of a maintenance loan: can you earn from a part-time job? Are you eligible for any scholarships or bursaries? Living at home does give you more financial freedom, although any extra money is a bonus!
2. You have a guaranteed support network
For some, living at university may get lonely very quickly. Living at home guarantees you a support network you already have access to. Whether this be family or childhood friends, these groups provide your social needs as well as support for when university gets rough. Compared to some of my peers, the consistent support I gained from my family in person made a difference compared to support from a distance.
However, don’t let the distance between home and university life put you off. I understand how it feels to seem out of place. The worst feeling you can get is going into an introductory lecture to see that everyone but you have made friends. The thought is off-putting, isn’t it? While a common misconception of living at home is FOMO from the “university experience”, this transition into university becomes easier over time, as long as you really let yourself get immersed into it. Joining societies and saying ‘yes’ to almost any social event allowed me to meet many people and find great friends.
3. You know the area better than anyone else
According to other first years at least, you are now officially an expert in the local area. A great benefit is being able to navigate the streets of your home city. If you venture out enough, you know the shops, the sights and the nightlife. While exploring your new campus offers enrichment, the comfort of knowing the city means it’s easier to settle into university.
A great tip for making friends: offer them a tour of the city and show them your go-to places. This worked out well for me and made great conversation starters on life before university. Suddenly, you’re making new memories in the places and they mean a lot more to you than before. And who knows? Maybe you’ll find somewhere you’ve never been before…
4. You have an extra advantage with part-time jobs
Having a part-time job while studying has pros and cons. The bigger advantages include extra money and professional experience to add to your CV (and yes, stacking shelves can provide you with transferable skills). In fact, more than half of students have paid jobs alongside their studies. If you think about it, you can meet other students as well as people from all walks of life.
A part-time job living at home has an add-on advantage of working consistently without the need for any term-time contracts. Living at home allowed me to work between classes and work full-time over holidays. However, check with your employer on your options if you plan to move away. If you have a job with a large company prior to university, you may be able to transfer to your university’s city. It is always worth asking!
5. Home never felt better
The final, and most important, benefit: you live at home! Relocation isn’t necessary, meaning you can transition into full independence in your own time. But you have your bed, you have home-cooked food, you have your decoration and space, the shower works… The comfort of home never felt better after a tour of your friend’s accommodation. You may hear the horror stories of student accommodation on social media, wait until you see the horror stories yourself!
On top of that, the boundaries between home life and university life are clear, especially when your university is a separate campus. Sometimes, I enjoyed being able to come home without needing to worry about what happened that day at university because it was away from me. While this high-school-esque routine becomes tedious, you may count your blessings after a particularly bad day.
Ultimately – it’s up to you!
My list of benefits of living at home as a university student is only subjective based on my experiences. However, it is always worth considering all of your options. Is your chosen subject offered at your local university? Do you have the means to commute? Is home a good environment to live and study in? I am fortunate to be able to have a safe environment and a consistent way of commuting, but this may not be the case for everyone. My last piece of advice is to analyse your current situation and ensure you do what is best for you and your education.
