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BBC News
· collected 2026-09-24 · by Oliver Whitfield-Miocic, Hsin-Yi Lo
The article reports an increase in the number of university students who commute from home due to rising living costs. According to data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas), the number of students planning to live at home during their courses rose from 535,090 in 2017 to 748,060 in 2026, marking a 39.8% increase. The piece highlights personal accounts and expert opinions on how commuting can be cheaper and still allow for full university engagement while acknowledging potential drawbacks such as reduced campus immersion.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In recent years, more students are opting to live at home while attending university due to high living costs. According to Ucas data, the number of people planning to stay at home during their studies increased from 535,090 in 2017 to 748,060 in 2026, marking a rise of 39.8%. This trend is particularly evident among students like Bethany Fearne and Ez Spring at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), who find it financially beneficial to commute from nearby towns such as Sittingbourne rather than living on campus. Despite the traditional view that university life involves moving away, many students feel they do not miss out on campus immersion by commuting.
Written for “Student Housing Costs Rise” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
- Published
Attending university has traditionally been a rite of passage that involves moving away from home and transitioning into an independent life.
asserted
that → publish → life
However, the reality is different for a growing number of students who say they will instead be staying at home and travelling to their seminars due to the cost of living.
asserted
they → grow → living
In 2017, 535,090 people said they intended to live at home during their university course compared with 748,060 in 2026 - an increase of 39.8%, according to figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas).
uncertain
they → say → Service
Bethany Fearne, a second year law student, said it was "significantly cheaper" to stay at home in Sittingbourne and drive to Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) than live on campus.
asserted
it → say → campus
She said she believed living outside of university "made no difference" in terms of immersing herself in university life.
asserted
living → say → life
"I don't feel like I miss out at all," she said. "
asserted
she → feel → ?
I get involved in activities like the Colour Run."
asserted
I → involve → Run
Ez Spring, a second year sports therapy student, drives 40 minutes each way to university and sees the benefits of living at home.
asserted
Spring → drive → home
"When I am driving, it's a nice time to relax before attending classes," she said.
asserted
she → drive → classes
"I can stay at home with my family and keep my job."
This year, more than 81,000 UK 18-year-olds said in their accepted university application they intended to live at home, according to Ucas figures.
uncertain
they → stay → figures
Dr Susan Kenyon, principal lecturer in politics at CCCU, said: "We have seen this trend across many years now in higher education. "
Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, said the gradual growth of commuter students was linked to the cost of living.
asserted
growth → say → living
"Aside from tuition fees, the single biggest cost is rent where you can pay up to £1,000 a month depending where you live," he said.
asserted
he → pay → 1,000
"Even if you receive the maximum maintenance loan rate, it may not be enough to cover both rent and other daily expenditures."
uncertain
it → receive → rent
Hillman said there were advantages and disadvantages to being a commuter student.
asserted
Hillman → say → ?
"If you live at home, you are more likely to keep your network of family and friends, and other support network," he said.
asserted
he → live → family
"However, you may be not immersing in campus life experience.
uncertain
you → immerse → experience
"Some universities are adapting to this commuter student trend by reducing on-campus attendance to three days a week and offering hotel-style accommodation."
Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, external, X, external, and on Instagram, external and listen to BBC Radio Kent on Sounds.
asserted
universities → adapt → Sounds
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