9th March 2018 9:00
By Blue Tutors
The BBC has reported that more students than ever becoming ‘commuter students’ instead of moving out of home to attend university, and it seems that many students think this is a positive thing. Rather than living on campus, paying for accommodation, and paying increased tuition fees, commuter students are left with less debt after university meaning a smaller barrier to starting a university degree.
Anjum James-Francis studying for a degree in sport and exercise at Newman University in Birmingham. He said that he doesn’t feel as isolated as you might expect from someone not living on campus, and that whereas many students might go back to their halls and socialise with flatmates, he finds that by going home, he works harder than many of his friends.
The recent review of post 18 education said that it’s important to look at ways to reduce the cost of universities to prevent putting off able students. Restoring maintenance grants for poorer students is one way to do this, but commuter degrees will really help, with the addition of scheduling lectures outside of peak transport hours