Living at home
Heading to university brings big decisions for you to make. One of the biggest is whether to live at home while studying or move into halls or private accommodation.
There’s no wrong answer. It all comes down to what's right for you. Don’t worry – we're here to help you make the best choice for your situation.
What's everyone else doing?
Living at home is a completely normal way to experience university.
66% of our UK-based undergraduate students live at home while studying, alongside 26% of our UK-based postgraduate students. Plenty move into halls or private accommodation. So, whatever you decide, you’ll be in the same boat as thousands of other students.
Ultimately, you shouldn't do something because other people are doing it. Or because someone told you to. It's a personal decision that comes down to what's right for you.
This page has lots of useful information to help you choose.
“Living the student life at home is not just an option, it's a lifestyle filled with belief. From self-care practices to the thoughtful freedom of setting my own study pace, it's a journey that's uniquely mine, and yours could equally be as exceptional as mine.”
Hamza, BSc (Hons) Business and Management
The pros and cons of living at home
Advantages of living at home
It's cheaper
Even if your parents or carers ask for a contribution towards bills and other costs, living at home will likely be cheaper than moving into student accommodation.
You can enjoy home comforts
Living at home brings a degree of comfort. You’re in familiar surroundings and might even get the odd home-cooked meal and freshly washed clothes.
You'll have access to family support
Your parents, carers and/or siblings will be close at hand if you choose to stay at home. University can be a big adjustment, and their support can help you settle in.
Drawbacks of living at home
You're less independent
Even though it might push you out of your comfort zone, you’ll be more independent if you move out. You’ll have to look after yourself, and this is an important step towards adulthood for many people.
It could be harder to make friends
Living on campus means making friends is much easier. That’s not to say living at home guarantees you won’t meet anyone. You might just have to make a bit of extra effort.
Your commute might be longer
The advantage of living on campus is: when you wake up in the morning, you’re already there. Living at home could mean spending time getting to and from campus most days.
How can I make the most of university while living at home?
So, let’s say you’ve made the choice to live at home while studying, but still want to get involved in university life. Don’t worry – that’s totally doable.
Here are some ways to stay plugged into the university experience without moving into halls or private accommodation:
The Students' Union
Run by students, for students
The Students’ Union is your one-stop-shop for student life. They organise regular events and trips, provide spaces to meet other students, support you if anything comes up and keep you in the loop with volunteering and paid roles for students.
Campus
The centre of student life
Our campus has a community atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else. Even though you won’t be living there, there’s still loads to visit to make the most of your university experience, including Student Central, the JB Priestley Library, Unique Fitness and lots more.
Your course
A great way to meet people
There are plenty of ways to get to know other students through your course. As well as meeting your coursemates in lectures, seminars and other sessions, you can get involved in group projects to get to know people, or even look into becoming a course representative.
Support
We're here to help you make the most of university life
Even if you're not living on campus, you're still entitled to the same support services as everyone else. From counselling and mental health support to faith advisers and IT services, our MyBradford Student Support Service can signpost you to whatever help you need.
What if I decide not to live at home?
Ok, maybe you’ve realised living at home's not for you.
There are plenty of options open to you if that's the case. Our top recommendation is The Green - this student village is ideally situated right on campus.
You can find out everything you need to know about The Green and the other accommodation available to you on our Accommodation page.