{"id":33359,"date":"2025-07-10T09:02:04","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T09:02:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kortext.com\/student-hub\/?p=33359"},"modified":"2025-07-04T08:47:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T08:47:04","slug":"the-daily-dash-life-as-a-commuter-student","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kortext.com\/student-hub\/university-life\/the-daily-dash-life-as-a-commuter-student\/","title":{"rendered":"The daily dash \u2013 life as a commuter student"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\ud83d\udd58 <\/span>6:30 \u00a0<\/strong>
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP <\/span>
That\u2019s your alarm clock screaming in your ear. You\u2019re a commuter student and you have a 9am lecture. Straight out of bed \u2013 none of that snooze malarkey, you\u2019ve been fooled before.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\ud83d\udd58 <\/span>7:30 <\/strong>
Showered and ready to go. An outfit is chosen, a bag is packed, and you\u2019re ready to leave for uni. You take one last longing look at the toaster before glancing at the time on your lockscreen and dashing out the door.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd58 <\/span>7:35 \u00a0<\/strong>
Sweating. Running home. Heavy bag has a twisted strap that is digging into your shoulder. Your laptop charger is where you left it plugged in, close call but you’ve secured the charger and are back on track. <\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd58 <\/span>7:40\u00a0<\/strong>
Fast walking back to the bus stop. Quick check of the bus times reveals that the U1 is on time. All is well, order has returned. Your stomach growls but you ignore it, no space in the bag for food today.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd58 <\/span>7:45\u00a0<\/strong>
Made it to the bus stop. Updated bus times reveal a broken-down bus and twenty-minute delay. You resist the urge to launch your phone at the ground and grumpily cram an earbud in your ear.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\ud83d\udd58 <\/span>8:05
<\/strong>In what can only be described as a miracle, the U1 arrives at its expected time. You bound through the double doors, slam your bus pass against the scanner and stomp towards the nearest empty seat, not catching anybody\u2019s eye, not passing go, not collecting \u00a3200.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd58 <\/span>8:55<\/strong>
The bus swings onto campus. It\u2019s on your marks, get set, GO as the doors open. Students spill out onto the pavement heaving their bulging bags with them. You are no different, everyone has five minutes to get to their 9ams, and nobody is willing to risk the embarrassment of walking in late to a full lecture hall.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd58 <\/span>8:59
<\/strong>You flop into your seat. Two-and-a-half hours into your day, you\u2019re sweaty, shaking from stress and exhausted from carrying a heavy bag, but you made it. Around you, campus-based students sip coffees and finish overnight oats from reusable tubs. Your stomach protests again before you open your laptop and lock in for a day of learning.\u00a0 <\/span>
\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

If this timeline is feeling a little too relatable as a fellow student who travels into uni, you\u2019re not alone. With <\/span>nearly half of all UK students (46%) considering themselves \u2018commuter students\u2019<\/span><\/a>, we\u2019ve been working hard to understand the issues you\u2019re facing.
<\/span><\/p>\n

So, if you\u2019re feeling:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcb8<\/span> Worried about money<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd0c<\/span> Disconnected from the uni community<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\ude23<\/span> Stressed at unpredictable travel delays<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfbd<\/span> Like you\u2019re missing out on extra-curriculars<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc69<\/span>\u200d<\/span>\ud83d\udcbb<\/span> Exhausted from balancing uni work with other responsibilities<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s okay, all these feelings are totally valid, and policymakers and universities are working hard to put systems in place, so students relying on public transport to make their contact hours feel more supported in their higher education journey.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the meantime, here are a few ideas that may help you to manage your time, and workload, whilst always on the go:<\/span> Make your commute count<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n