The increasing cost of living is causing more UK students than ever to commute rather than live on campus. To some, this change represents a dramatic disruption and transformation to the long established, status quo environment of higher education. Participants like Daman Arora, Jaheim Karim and Michaela Makusha have fearlessly charted a course through this new frontier. They highlight the struggles but embrace the opportunities that America’s new commuting crisis offers for their research.
Daman Arora began his academic career at Royal Holloway, University of London. He committed to D.C. campus life by living on the quad in residence halls throughout his first two years. The financial climate drove him to relocate out of central London to the outskirts. Jaheim Karim is currently studying a postgraduate MA in magazine journalism at City, University of London. In reality, though, he makes the 100-mile round trip from Derby three or four times a week. PhD Candidate Michaela Makusha travels from Birmingham to Leicester. She makes a 3-hour journey each way three times a week to study for her MA in investigative journalism at De Montfort University. This move towards a daily commute shows the increasing worry students have over their housing costs and ongoing pursuit of debt-free education.
The Financial Burden of Commuting
The economic cost of commuting can be mind-boggling. Jaheim Karim’s weekly travel costs, as he traverses the different pieces of the train/tube/mobility puzzle, total around £250. Michaela Makusha finds her 50-minute commute costing up to £48 a day. The cost for each leg of her trip is between £6-8.
In London, the average rent soars to an incredible £778 per month. This is frequently without considering other bills, which makes it a major hurdle for students. Leicester provides a much more affordable average rent of £504 per month. Daman Arora’s experience is illustrative of the reality of accommodation. He spent just over £13,000 for two years living in student accommodation. The economic climate has compelled 46% of surveyed students to commute due to the rising cost of living and the technological advances that facilitate remote learning.
“I have spent thousands and thousands commuting,” – Jaheim Karim.
Karim’s plight highlights the financial burden all students are up against. In the end, he purchased a car and increased his commute time to a half hour. He acknowledged the steep price tags that accompanied this decision. When announcing the move, he voiced his frustration with London’s housing crisis. He argues that it’s simply not feasible for the majority of young people to seek out and find appropriate accommodations.
“London is not feasible for most ordinary young people like me who are looking for a suitable place to live and work,” – Jaheim Karim.
Navigating Social Life and Academic Commitments
Yet commuting is not without its social costs. Even so, she claims that it is not very detrimental to her social life at all, according to Michaela Makusha. She argues that how students strategically engage with their experience shapes what kinds of social interactions they have.
“Commuting doesn’t negatively affect my social life at all. It is what you make it. People put way too much hype on campus social life,” – Michaela Makusha.
For these students, the real test is when they have to juggle their academic lives with their social ones. The long travel process produces a sense of dislocation, alienation and absence from campus culture. A handful of students have used their ingenuity to turn these limitations into unprecedented opportunities. They balance their commuting schedules with their academic life and making social plans as well.
Jaheim Karim reflected on his experience, noting the emotional toll of commuting and pursuing his dreams while grappling with harsh realities.
“It did feel sort of hopeless … like I had my dreams on the one hand, and my reality on the other. The gap was too large between.” – Jaheim Karim.
Support and Solutions for Commuter Students
Against this backdrop, there is mounting pressure on universities to do more to meet the needs of non-traditional, commuting students. Vivi Friedgut, co-founder of Raise.me and a longtime advocate for students’ well-being, noted that economic crises can have a devastating domino effect on students’ education.
“Our research shows that they are severely impacted by current economic challenges, increasing their risk of dropping out due to the financial strain,” – Vivi Friedgut.
Friedgut urged universities to make deeper ties with local businesses and startups. Together, this partnership might create discounted transportation and customized jobs along transit routes for students who are commuting. These kinds of initiatives would save students a significant amount of money and would make their time on campus even better.
Anna Thunstrom from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners focused on the essential role of insurance. This is crucial for students who live off campus or in temporary housing. She raised that without a door to lock on a bedroom, occupants insurance claims could be denied if their things disappeared.
“Most items will only be covered if the student’s bedroom has a lockable door,” – Anna Thunstrom.
“Leaving the room unlocked in a shared home will typically invalidate a claim should something go missing,” – Anna Thunstrom.