From train delays to study days: 10 tips for commuter life at UoB

When I started university, I was worried that commuting would feel like a barrier, that living off campus meant missing out on the “real” student experience. But after a few months, I’ve realised that being a commuter comes with its own routine, community, and even a few unexpected perks! I’m Holly, a first year Modern Languages and English Literature student, and whether you’re travelling from Birmingham like me, the Black Country, Coventry, or further afield, here’s what I’ve learned along the way.

1. Check traffic and leave early

My mornings start with a non-negotiable ritual: I check traffic updates before I’ve even left the house. Delays can happen (especially when you have to leave at 8am on a Monday morning!), and knowing what the roads will look like saves a lot of stress. I always leave as early as I can – having 20 extra minutes on campus beats sprinting to my lecture as quickly as possible!

2. Prep the night before

Packing my bag the night before has become my best friend. I learned the hard way that realising you’ve forgotten your laptop charger halfway through a long day is a painful experience! So now, my bag always has the essentials: my water bottle, snacks, my laptop charger, and an umbrella (this is Birmingham after all).

I also usually bring lunch from home to save myself some money, but sometimes it’s nice to treat yourself – you can gain discounts with the Food Fellows app.

3. Book a study day

Planning your days in advance can be the perfect way to stay organised and make the most of a full day on campus. My favourite way to do this is organising study days: booking study rooms, borrowing laptops, making the most of library opening hours, seeing how many spaces will be available; it can all be planned on this Library web page.

4. Use discounted travel passes

Even though you may think travelling to university can add up and be quite expensive, staying up to date with student discounts, travel passes, and everyday hacks can help stretch your budget.

If you’re travelling by train, a West Midlands Railcard or a student season ticket, can save a lot over the year. Of course, you have the UK’s only university railway station at hand, which is a huge help! You can find out more tips on train tickets here on the UoB website.

5. Park for free and do a short walk

I drive to campus most days, and after a lot of trial and error, I found the best way to manage it was parking at the Selly Oak train station and walking to campus – the walk is only a few minutes! You can even use available street parking.

6. Cycle if you can

UoB has great resources for cycling to uni, including bike rails, and a bike repair shop right here on campus! This Bike Safety page offers amazing tips to help you stay safe when cycling.

7. Use discount apps

Travelling will be a big expense for a commuter, so I recommend making savings where you can in other ways. My favourite student discount apps are UniDays and Student Beans for discounts on trains, clothes, food shops and more. Small habits like this make a big difference when you’re commuting regularly. Check out the University’s Cost of Living support and advice here.

8. Use study spots and free facilities

One of the best parts of commuting is learning where all the hidden study spots are on campus and making use of campus facilities. A few of my favourites include:

The Mason lounge in the Arts building (microwave, hot water tap, vending machine, sofas, and computers – what more could you need!)

The Old Gym (some great study spaces with computer clusters)

The Brammall café (not only a nice study space, but also a lunch and drink spot)

And of course, the library is perfect for study 24/7 - with blankets, microwaves, water taps, blankets and more! You can even check available seats on the MyUoB app before you go hunting for your spot.

9. Keep connected

Commuters sometimes worry about missing out on social events, but you can absolutely still have an amazing social life without living in student accommodation!

Join the Commuter Students society to meet other commuting students and share your experiences – this is a great way to build a circle of friends who could be on campus at the same time as you.

Make use of your course group chats! Ask around to be added to different group chats for your course on Unibuddy, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Snapchat.

Stay around after your lectures, see if anyone wants to grab a coffee and catch up.

10. Stay safe and look after yourself

If safety ever crosses your mind (especially in the winter when evenings get dark), the UoB Safe Zone app is genuinely reassuring and for more general safety tips, take a look at this Staying Safe webpage.

Commuting can be tiring, so remember to take care of yourself: stay hydrated, pack food, have proper rest days. Find ways to make use of your commute rather than treating it like a chore – for example, listening to your favourite podcast or reading a good book.

If you ever need some to talk to, the Time to Talk page is a great place to start.

Written by Holly Handley