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Posted Feb. 3, 2026

How to discover your student community as a postgraduate commuter student

Commuter students

With postgraduate and undergraduate students in the UK often choosing to live at home and commute rather than relocate to their university of choice, as well as the increasing popularity of online study for postgrads, it is important for commuter and online students to be able to find a sense of community.

For students living on or near campus, the start to university life can be a social whirl of on-campus events, with Freshers Week promoting new clubs, societies and sporting activities, there are plenty of fun opportunities to make new friends, forge key connections with flatmates and those sharing your halls of residence, and many other organic ways to meet your fellow students.

However, for commuter students and those studying online, these natural ways to form friendships and bond with your peers can be a different story. Commuter students often head straight home after lectures, missing out on the informal, spontaneous connections that happen outside the classroom and can find themselves on the edge of social events and evening meet-ups.

Online communities are helping to bridge this gap, for example at CampusConnect we have seen a significant rise in students using the platform to connect with one another, get their university questions answered, ease pre-university anxieties, co-ordinate their journeys to university, and more.

Here are some key ways that online communities can help commuter and online students.

Find fellow commuter students

A big challenge for commuter students is feeling like they’re part of the university culture. Without living on campus, it’s easy to feel like an outsider; so, finding a place to connect – even before enrolment takes place – is a great way for students to feel at home before they have even started their course. Online connections with fellow commuter students can be a very positive experience.

  • Meeting fellow postgrads studying the same course, from the same hometown, with shared interests, will provide a great start to student life.
  • Organising car shares or train/bus buddies can reduce travel costs and make travel on public transport – particularly at night time – ­feel safer and more fun.
  • Sharing campus-specific tips and advice, such as best routes or parking options is informative and great for bonding.
  • It’s important for morale to realise that you are not the only one planning to live at home and commute, in fact, you could be in the majority.  

Discover easy ways to save money

Cost-of-living pressure is currently the single largest barrier to entry for UK and Irish HE and the main reason so many students don’t relocate to university is a financially viable option. However, while offering a saving in the long term, commuting to and from university can also be expensive, especially with rising fuel prices, bus/train fares, or parking fees.

Online communities can help students meet people to share your costs as well as your student experience!

  • Share information about discounts, passes and student-friendly options.
  • Split the cost of parking or taxi rides.
  • Buddy up to avail of discounts such as GroupSave (a discount available when three to nine people travel together).

Over the academic year, these small savings really add up, and as well as reducing feelings of isolation, they can significantly reduce financial strain.

Get support when you need it

Commuting as a postgraduate student can be tiring, especially during exam season or over the winter when much of the travelling is done in the dark or in bad weather. Having a digital space where you can vent, ask for help or even just chat casually with others who understand what it’s like can be incredibly valuable – you should never underestimate the importance of shared experience.

An online student community can become a support network, a space where fellow postgrads can lift each other up and remind each other that they’re not alone. When you’re not on campus 24/7, it’s easy to miss out on postgrad events, society meetings and even academic deadlines. By keeping in regular contact with your fellow students – even if it is online, will ensure you are kept in the loop about all aspects of your postgraduate journey and feel just as involved as your on-campus peers.

Maximise your postgraduate experience

As a postgraduate student, university is about so much more than lectures and assignments, it’s also about connection, growth and community. Although commuter students may not find their community in halls of residence, it can thrive online. In a world where digital spaces shape so much of our social lives, don’t miss the opportunity to recognise the power of online communities to support you as a home-based commuter student – academically, financially and socially.

Dan HinkleyAuthor’s bio: Daniel Hinkley is Co-founder of CampusConnect, helping universities and business schools create vibrant digital communities that connect students, boost enrolment, and improve the student experience.

Based in beautiful Cumbria, he loves seeing students arrive on campus confident, organised, and with friendships already in place. Outside of work, Daniel enjoys running and cricket.

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