A record number of new university students in the United Kingdom are choosing to live at home this year, marking the highest level seen in nearly a decade. According to recent data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas), more than 81,000 UK 18-year-olds indicated in their accepted university applications that they plan to stay at home.
This figure represents just over one in three students within that age bracket, a significant increase from 2017 when the proportion was closer to one in five.
While this trend is rising across the entire country, regional variations remain stark. In Scotland, 48% of university applicants intend to live at home during their studies, compared to 20% of applicants in Wales. Students have expressed that the escalating cost of living has become the primary factor in determining their living arrangements after finishing school or college.
For friends Beatrice and Amelia, who reside in St Helens, Merseyside, the high price of student housing heavily influenced their decision to remain at home. Both are starting university this September, but neither plans to move into traditional student accommodation. Beatrice, who is enrolling at the University of Manchester to study mathematics, intends to commute by train, a journey that takes roughly 50 minutes each way.
Beatrice explained that Manchester was her first choice and Liverpool was her second, meaning she knew from the start that commuting would be a viable option. She noted that renting student accommodation would have cost her "a few grand a year." Amelia, who will attend Liverpool John Moores University, faces a shorter 20-minute train commute.
She decided to stay home after discovering that the student accommodation she looked at cost between £300 and £400 per week. While neither student is particularly looking forward to the daily travel, both remain hopeful that they can still fully participate in the university experience.
Other students feel more conflicted about the compromise. Jessica, who is also set to study at Liverpool John Moores University, expressed sadness over missing out on campus life. She shared that she would have loved to live in halls, but described the current rental prices as "ridiculous" and "insane." To cope with the expenses, Jessica works a part-time job, but worries that the added commute will severely limit her free time.
However, she noted that staying at home does come with the benefit of enjoying her parents' cooked meals. Her situation reflects a growing reality highlighted by previous reports, including one student who saved more than £7,000 on accommodation by making a 90-minute daily commute to Manchester.
The shift comes at a time when a record number of UK 18-year-olds have been accepted into higher education. However, student rents have surged alongside general inflation. A report published last year by the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) revealed that, excluding tuition fees, students require approximately £61,000 over the course of a three-year degree to maintain a "minimum socially acceptable standard of living."
Hepi's 2024 analysis showed that weekly rent for university-owned accommodation ranges from £108 for 40- to 44-week contracts in Northern Ireland to £338 for short-term contracts in London, where housing accounts for nearly half of a student's total expenses. In most other regions, weekly rents fall between £140 and £180, with private halls often commanding even higher prices.
Although many students qualify for maintenance loans to offset these expenses, student unions warn that campus room prices are rising far quicker than the available financial support. Consequently, Hepi reports that the majority of young, full-time students now take up paid employment during term time to cover the shortfall.
These financial pressures are also prompting some students to reconsider what a traditional university experience looks like. At one institution, nearly 3,400 students aged 18 and 19 enrolled last year, accounting for 9.5% of new starters compared to just 5.7% six years ago. Prof Dave Phoenix, the university's vice-chancellor, suggested this reflects a broader shift in perspective among young people.
He noted that opting for online study options allows students to avoid high moving costs and accommodation bills while enabling others to retain their jobs.
However, this shift has sparked debate among academics. Prof William Whyte from the University of Oxford argued in a recent report that the benefits of living on campus extend far beyond housing costs, playing a vital role in personal growth and peer socialization.
He questioned what students lose when they do not live and learn together within a university community, calling for a serious national debate on how student accommodation should be funded and managed.
In response to these concerns, a spokesperson for the Department for Education stated that the government is aware of the financial hardships facing many students. The department announced it is increasing maximum maintenance loans, reintroducing maintenance grants to assist with general living costs, and collaborating with local councils and universities to improve access to affordable housing options.
Data analysis by Isobel Cottam & Phil Leake. Additional reporting by Emily Doughty
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