Living at home while at uni
Studying with us, but living at home?
If you are, you are definitely not alone. Over 70% of our undergraduate students, excluding international students, live at home for many reasons while at uni. They might live locally, want to save on the cost of living, are a mature learner with a family or might be caring for someone alongside their studies.
One thing is clear from their stories, you absolutely don’t need to move out of home to have the most amazing student experience. Here are a few ways to make the most of this exciting period of your life.
Find your people – join a club or society
A great way to make meaningful new friendships and socialise outside your course is to join our clubs and societies, run through our Guild of Students.
Whatever you love outside study, we have something for you. We have societies whose members share an interest in culture or hobbies, sports teams that offer social opportunities and the chance to compete against other teams, school communities for students who want to link up with people in the same academic area and liberation groups for students with particular identities who want to meet others with similar life experiences. You can even create your own society!
Make more of where you live
You might have lived in or around Birmingham all your life. But you might not have explored much of it. Studying at University College Birmingham means you are based at the heart of a fun city rich in culture, entertainment, nightlife and green spaces, which you can dip into inbetween lectures and outside your study time.
The great thing is that in a city that inspired everything from heavy metal to TV show Peaky Blinders, you can do so much for free, from visiting incredible exhibitions and festivals to going on walking tours and learning new skills in workshops.
You’re in the youngest city in Europe
It might be tempting to just sit at home when you don’t have to be at lectures and seminars, but if you get the chance to splash out, there are plenty of fun things to do with friends in and around Birmingham.
If you are keen to check out Birmingham’s amazing night life, there’s lots going on. But university isn't just about great big parties and nights out, it can be just as much about self-care and having space to unwind from your studies.
Travelling around is easy
What is really beneficial to our students living at home is just how easy it is to get around Birmingham and the surrounding areas. There is a great network of trains, trams and buses, all easily accessible from University College Birmingham, and we offer financial help through Kick-Start if you need support with getting in to uni.
You can also hire a bike from outside the Summer Row campus building from just 8p a minute or 20p a minute for an e-scooter.
Work alongside your studies
Why not take up a part-time job to earn extra cash or put time towards projects and causes that matter to you? Through Unitemps, you can get part-time jobs on and off campus or become a Student Ambassador working at events such as open days. You can also sign up for volunteering roles through our HIRED careers service.
We're here for you
If you are feeling apprehensive about studying at uni while living at home, you can speak to our wellbeing team at The Link via the student
portal. The team also holds workshops on managing anxiety, exercise and mental health, loneliness, making friends and finances.
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Guild of Students
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