Feeling unsure about the prospect of moving out from home for uni? With the cost of living crisis having an immediate impact on the financial side of university life, many students and their parents are starting to view moving out into university accommodation as an unnecessary expenditure. However, in my experiences, living away from home is the cherry on the top of the cake of university. This article outlines why it’s in a student’s best interests to fly the family nest, by drawing upon the experiences of those who have just finished their first year of university
1 – Social life
In my case, a main determiner in choosing to move out of home for university ended up being the success of my social life. Whilst it’s always in a student’s best interests to prioritise their grades and studying in the first year, this should not come at the expense of building a social circle to hang out with. Regardless of your living situation, the academic year will be full of opportunities to connect with students with similar interests and hobbies to you. However, this section outlines why and how commuters may be at risk of a limited university social life in comparison to those staying in accommodation for their first year.
Meeting people and making friends
Specifically, I’ve found that living away from home gives students the independence and opportunity needed to meet potential friends. When I asked Cardiff students how living away from home affected their social lives, the responses I received were largely in keeping with my own experiences. Amica, a first year Stem Student, moved into uni accommodation at Talybont. She noted (via an Instagram voice message) that the stability offered by student accommodation enabled her to accept more opportunities to socialise.
Safety and late nights
“It was knowing that I had a place to stay if I wanted to go on a night out or spend time at a friend’s house and it was getting late into the night. I didn’t have to worry about how I was getting home. How long it would take to get home and things like that. So it just made sense for me.” (Amica)
More so perhaps for female students, living away from home removes the worries that commuters often face when weighing up the pros and cons of attending a social event. These negatives become enhanced when considering that most university socialising happens late at night, particularly if you are going out.
Fresher’s Week and FOMO
An easy example to apply would be my experiences of Fresher’s week 2024. For the very small number of you who are unaware of what this is, this is a period of time which marks the beginning of your first academic year — a series of social events often characterised by binge drinking, home sickness and missed early lectures. If you were commuting to university, but still wanted to participate in the late night fresher’s frenzy, the first obstacle will always be the issue of public transport.
The problem with commuting
As regular public transport users are aware, if you’re commuting into the city through either trains or buses, it’s hard not to be hyper aware of the deadline for when public transport stops for the night. In my case, this would mean that I would have to head to the train station around eleven pm to get home, cutting off any hope of having a successful hangout. Much like the silent disco I went with my flat to, most freshers events start late into the night, often at or after trains/buses have stopped running.
You may think that issues of transport can be avoided on the assumption that a friend might let you stay the night in their room, and you would be partially correct. A lot of students are happy to let you steal their dubiously stained sofa and sleep over, and this communal vibe is what makes university a particularly welcoming space,but you need to remember that this is everyone’s first year and most people will be in university halls. Unless your friend is from a specific Southern area of England and can afford to splash out on fancy accommodation, you will be stuck on the floor of a cramped room with a girl who has had too many baby guinesses .
To conclude, It’s a nice concept in theory, staying at home where it’s familiar and saving money on rising student bills. However, do you really want to miss out on the social action? FOMO — the all consuming fear of missing out will get you in the end. Whilst this is of course not the case for every student, I met some of my best university friends at the late night fresher and taster events that were on during the first few weeks. Since then, we have gone on to rent a house together for the second year. If I was a commuter, I doubt I would have met the same people, which genuinely saddens me.
(It’s worth noting that whilst this conundrum only really applies to students who can’t drive and don’t own a car, this doesn’t mean that car owners have it easy. You have two choices — remain sober and miserable and drive back at two o’clock in the morning, or again pay for an extortionate taxi)
2. First steps into adulthood
For many students, including myself, the lure of going into accommodation for university is the new independence it offers. It might sound like a textbook cliche, but by learning how to live independently in accommodation you will experience your first steps into adulthood. A necessary and ridiculously fun part of your university transition.
Learning independence and responsibility
Living away from home is difficult — but that is why it’s worth doing. It gives you the space to learn on your own terms, without the constant supervision of your parents and their opinions. The cleaning, cooking and general upkeep of your space is now solely on you — meaning that It could be the perfect time to try out that recipe you always wanted to do, or simply bulk cook pasta for 5 days in a row. Regardless of how you want your time to look, living away from home gives you the independence to do university life on your own terms.
Balancing academics and freedom
This simulation of adulthood is crucial to your development as a well rounded and competent individual. In my first year of university I had an absolute blast doing things for myself, choosing when and where I wanted to go, decorating my room. This also means that attending lectures, handing in work on time and making the most of academically speaking, is on you. Learning how to navigate these hurdles is essential to building the skills that will be expected of you in the workplace. Staying at home may mean that you get your laundry done by your mum, but are you actually learning anything useful by relying on the routine of your parents?
Jazmyn, a psychology first year student, notes that living away from home was ultimately for the best. ‘
“When I first looked at uni it was mainly about grades and what was best for my course. Then I visited to see if I liked the campuses. There are universities near me but they weren’t what I wanted, I couldn’t see myself going to any of my local universities.I also wanted to get a bit more independence, and I know if l’d I stayed home I wouldn’t have as much freedom. It was rough at first but gaining that independence made me do new things and live more. It’s also not so far that I can’t go to my home to visit but it’s far enough where I had that independence that I don’t get at home where I live with so many people. As much as I love my home I think it would have prevented me from enjoying uni as much”. (Jazmyn)
Why moving out is worth it
This proves that even if you’re feeling anxious or scared about the possibilities of leaving your family home, you shouldn’t compromise your happiness by attending a university just because it’s closer to home. As Jaz explains, despite its challenges, the freedom offered is too good to ignore. Considering the positives I’ve encountered whilst living away from home, I would recommend moving out to any unsure university student. Whether it was enjoying extended time with my new friends (and having the opportunity and time to make said friends) or living life as an adult, I fully enjoyed living away).
Interested in finding out more about university accommodation? Find out more with Unifresher’s tips on findings accommodation.
FAQs on Moving Out for University
Moving out gives students independence, the chance to experience new places, and more opportunities to socialise. It also helps with personal growth by learning to budget, cook, and manage daily life without relying on family routines.
Benefits include making friends more easily in halls, having greater freedom with your schedule, and feeling more immersed in student life. It’s also a chance to explore a new city and develop valuable life skills like cooking and budgeting.
Yes, moving out usually costs more because of rent, bills, and food shopping. However, students can apply for maintenance loans, share housing costs, and budget carefully to make it affordable. Many feel the added independence is worth the extra cost.
Challenges include homesickness, managing money, and adjusting to shared living spaces. Cooking for yourself and staying on top of laundry can also feel overwhelming at first, but most students adapt quickly with practice and support.
Think about your budget, the distance to campus, your independence goals, and how much you value being close to family. Some students prioritise saving money at home, while others see moving out as key to the full university experience.