find your perfect postgrad program
Search our Database of 30,000 Courses

Refine courses

Posted Feb. 12, 2026

Commuter students – the lowdown

Commuter student

A commuter student is a student who travels to their university for lectures, seminars and other study periods on a daily basis, rather than choosing to live in university halls of residence or in other nearby student accommodation.

A postgrad commuter student will be a student who lives a reasonable distance away from their university, either in their family home or in a private rental property that is not a designated student residence.

In many cases, the student has chosen to remain at home for reasons that could include:

  • Family responsibilities
  • Work commitments
  • Financial constraints

What postgraduate courses are best for commuter students?

With a student lifestyle that relies on getting to and from university facilities from a reasonable distance away, and on a regular and even daily basis, commuter postgrads are well suited to masters degrees that offer a flexible timetable, with easy access to online resources and an option to study via blended learning.

This is particularly beneficial for those students who have chosen this student lifestyle because they have other commitments, such as family or work.

What are the benefits of being a commuter student?

There are several practical benefits to being a commuter student, especially if you are a postgrad – let’s take a look.

Lower living costs – students can save money on accommodation by renting in cheaper areas or remaining in the family home.

Less student debt – by having less outgoings (particularly if the student remains at home), students will spend less money on their postgrad experience and will need to take out less loans.

Balance other aspects of life – if the student remains at home for the duration of their masters degree, it is easier to balance the new study element of their life with family commitments and/or work, so there is less of a risk of loved ones feeling neglected.

Immediate support network – feeling unsupported and isolated are among the biggest potential issues of being a postgraduate student, and this is immediately dealt with, as a commuter student who remains at home will already have a familiar support network around them with their established friends, family and other community ties.

No homesickness – it goes without saying that if the student remains at home, they are not going to get homesick and struggle to settle in whilst pursuing their postgrad program.

Separation between study and home life – whilst many postgrads embrace the all-consuming, throw-yourself-into-it aspect of moving into student accommodation on a university campus, for others a clear separation between home life and student life is more helpful, enabling them to focus on their studies and keep their wellbeing in check.

Disadvantages of being a commuter student

One of the downsides of being a commuter student is that they tend to spend less time on campus, particularly outside of scheduled classes. This can mean that commuter students have a less social university experience than their on-campus peers and may miss out on networking events and other key university experiences.

Many students decide on the ‘commuter’ option for financial reasons – and this means that many commuter students have to rely on public transport. Depending on where they are studying and living in the country, public transport in the UK can often be infrequent at best and unreliable at worst. Public transport costs can also be more expensive than anticipated.

Having less interaction with their peers and spending less time on university campus means that commuter students can sometimes feel less connected to their university life and have an overall reduced sense of belonging.

The pressure of what to do between study periods, especially if the masters degree timetable unhelpfully bookends the day with lectures with nothing else in between, can be stressful – although on the upside it provides opportunity to spend time in the library to study and in the Student Union to socialise.

Being a commuter student can be tiring, as the postgrad is often out all day at university with a long journey there and back at the beginning and the end of the day.

It can be harder to take advantage of spontaneous opportunities if the student is always dashing off home at the end of a busy day of lecturers – or not around first thing for a coffee and catch up with classmates before seminars or lectures.

The key to success

To be a successful and happy commuter student, the key is to manage your time efficiently, don’t take on too many additional responsibilities, and make sure you engage properly with your fellow students – remember, just because you aren’t living on site, doesn’t mean that you can’t join university clubs and societies. Or, you could set up a weekly brainstorming study group in the Student Union café or bar, so you have a regular academic debrief and social catch up with your fellow students.

To be happy as a commuter student, ensure that you build up a community at university as well as retaining your community at home.

Related articles

How To Unlock The Power Of Networking As A Postgrad

How To Discover Your Student Community As A Postgraduate Commuter Student

Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries

 

Leave a comment

All contributors must be over 16 year olds

By submitting your comment you agree to our privacy policy.

Categories