How living at home while studying at University of Gloucestershire can save money and keep you connected

Going to university doesn't have to involve packing up your bedroom and moving hundreds of miles away.

For a growing number of students in the UK, staying at home offers a more affordable and flexible route to getting a degree – particularly if it means keeping a part-time job, staying close to friends and family or fitting study around other commitments.

Nearly a third of University of Gloucestershire students now live at home while studying, and the university has been looking closely at what those students need to make commuting work.

The result is a package of practical support that goes beyond simply getting to and from lectures.

Why more university students are choosing to live at home while studying

Cost is an obvious factor. Staying at home can remove one of the biggest expenses associated with university: paying for full-time student accommodation. 

But money isn't the only consideration. Some students want to continue working locally, have family responsibilities or simply don't want to give up an established life in Gloucestershire in order to study. 

University of Gloucestershire recognises this and aims to group teaching sessions together where possible and minimise timetable changes, helping students plan work, travel and life outside their course more easily.

And once students arrive on campus, there is no expectation that they have to leave again as soon as teaching finishes.

Discounted bus travel and parking for University of Gloucestershire students

For commuters, the practicalities of getting to university matter. 

University of Gloucestershire students can travel on Stagecoach buses across the county for £2 for a single journey during the 2026/27 academic year by showing their student card. 

Students travelling by car can park at Oxstalls campus in Gloucester, and Park and Francis Close Hall campuses in Cheltenham, while those living outside university halls who apply through UCAS Clearing can receive a free parking permit. 

Its new City Campus in the centre of Gloucester is also particularly well placed for public transport, close to the city's railway and bus stations.

Flexible student accommodation at Pittville

Living at home also doesn't mean students have to commute every single day. 

For longer journeys, busy weeks or evenings when students want to stay for an event or activity, University of Gloucestershire has a limited number of rooms available at Pittville Student Village in Cheltenham for short-term stays. 

Commuting students can currently book their own room for up to three nights a week for £120, offering some of the flexibility of halls without committing to – or paying for – full-time accommodation.

Making campus somewhere to spend the day

A lecture might only last an hour, but that doesn't mean the rest of the day needs to be spent waiting for the journey home. 

Each University of Gloucestershire campus has places to study, eat, socialise and relax between teaching sessions, from libraries and Students' Union spaces to refectories and quiet sanctuary areas. 

Students living at home are also guaranteed a free locker, while practical facilities including microwaves, kettles, fridges and sinks make it easier to treat campus as a base for the day.

Staying connected and social when you live at home

Then there's the part of university that happens outside the lecture theatre. 

University of Gloucestershire's Students' Union runs more than 60 clubs and societies, with many events taking place during the daytime or early evening so commuting students can take part. 

Students can start making connections before they even arrive through MyGlos Lounge, University of Gloucestershire's online community for offer holders. It provides a place to meet other students – including people living locally – ask questions and start building a network before the academic year begins. 

Students hoping to combine studying with earning can also access Unitemps, the university's on-campus recruitment agency, which offers temporary paid work designed to fit around university commitments.

Thinking about transferring to University of Gloucestershire?

Staying closer to home is also an option for students who have already accepted a place or begun studying at another university and decide it isn't right for them. 

University of Gloucestershire's admissions team can guide students through transferring to the university, from checking course eligibility to completing the UCAS process. 

Where previous study is relevant, credits may also be recognised, meaning students could continue their undergraduate studies at University of Gloucestershire rather than starting their degree again from scratch. 

Find out more about transferring to University of Gloucestershire by visiting glos.ac.uk/transferring-to-university-of-gloucestershire.