Commuting to University: How to get the most out of your experience

Not everyone who comes to university will choose to live in student halls. Some students prefer to live at home during university to save money or to stay close with their family. And if you are local to Manchester, it might make more sense for you.

If you’re a commuting student and asking yourself – will I miss out on the full university experience? The answer is no. Your time at university can be anything you want it to be, and with a little bit of planning, you can make the most out of your time on campus and at Manchester Met.

5 tips for enjoying uni life while living at home

1.    Make the most of being on campus

Whether you just come to campus for your lectures and seminars, or you have a routine with studying in the library, there are plenty of resources on campus for you to take advantage of:

• Attend campus events – as a way to meet new people, whether it’s our Commuters Chat and Chill event, or our welcome events and jobs fair.
• Use our study spaces – across campus and along the oxford road corridor, including cosy student friendly cafés and computer banks or quiet zones.
• Stay active – by signing up to one of our on campus gyms, or getting involved with one of our various sports clubs!

2.    Meet people and make new friends

One of the benefits of living at home during university is spending time with your family and keeping in touch with local friends. However, don’t let this deter your from making new friends at uni and getting to know other students on your course.

Attending your scheduled lectures and seminars is essential, but it will also mean that you can mix with a wide variety of different students who share your interests. You could even organise a study group during the days you are on campus or organise to meet your Coursemates after hours, by using Manchester’s night busses and trams to get home safely. 

3.    Join a club or society

You will also have the same access to clubs and societies as campus students, which will give you dedicated time to meet new people and stay active on campus. Whether you want to pick up a new language, sport or hobby – its easier to get to know people when you have an activity that you can share in!

Clubs and societies will also give you the option to mix with students across different year groups, which will give you a fuller experience. This could be a great way to make friendships and connections on campus, so that you can build your own community of friends.

4.    Make the most of Manchester’s public transport

Just because you don’t live in the city centre doesn’t mean that you can’t get involved in evening events and socials in the city! With Manchester’s new Bee Network, trams are operating later and 24 hour Night Buses (covering certain areas of Manchester) are also being trialled as of September 1st.

Use TFGM’s Journey Planner to check which routes are operating to your area, and make sure that you have a few options to make it home safely, before you go out at night.

5.    Find a part-time job on campus

Staying at home is a great way to save money whilst you study and can set you up for your future with some extra savings. Getting a part time job will also motivate you to come onto campus, get involved with other students in a professional environment, and give you a chance to meet people from other places, whilst sharing your knowledge of Manchester with people haven’t been here before!

Check out our article on how to find a part time job, or head over to the Jobs4Students webpage to see what opportunities are available to work with the university.