Rise of the student commuters: weighing the costs of living at home or in halls

Changing social trends and creative timetables are making it more likely for students to stay at home while they study. Is campus life on the way out?

For Lucy Brazier, a second-year business management student, commuting to university was an easy decision. She lives near Colchester, where the University of Essex is based. “[It] was the obvious choice for my course once I weighed up the costs,” she says.

And with overnight accommodation available on campus, she feels she gets the best of both worlds. “I can book a room at less than a day’s notice for £35 so I don’t have to drive home. I’ve used it after nights out, and the evening before exams so I don’t have the stress of driving in the morning. It’s been really helpful.”