My journey to Brighton: life as a commuting student

Author: Aadhi Pazhuparambil Suresh, Digital Games Development BSc(hons), School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering

Where do I begin really, I guess it started when I first travelled to Brighton with my family by car from Bexhill and saw how vibrant and lively Brighton was with its great blend of both culture and innovation in the arts. This was what made me interested in applying for university there, though looking back I do wish I could have told my past self some more information about commuting to university. Back then, I had not travelled much further than Hastings or Eastbourne and after finishing my 2^nd and final year of studying IT BTEC at Bexhill 6^th form college and getting admitted into Brighton, I began my commuter journey. 

I had already planned to save both money and time by choosing to live at home instead of using the university provided accommodations (despite the fact that I live more than 30 miles away from my campus of study) as such, this is a blog of someone who travels for one hour to get to their lectures! 

Why I chose to commute to university

Now the first order of business would be to ask why I chose to commute to university instead of living in the university provided halls. This was something I discussed at great length with others at the time of my decision, with different opinions being shared and many people suggesting I move to the university campus and live there as a form of independence. This was appealing for me at the time, but as I spent more days thinking about it, I grew to realise that this didn’t appeal to me much, at the time I hadn’t started working yet and being an international student meant my tuition fees were quite high, this made it quite difficult to balance paying fees and accommodation. This decision became a bit of a stressful thought that continued to flicker around in my head for weeks.  

However, when I attended one of the university’s open day events at the Moulsecoomb campus, I discovered that there was a train station situated right next to the campus, which made me think back to my old plans of commuting to university by train, since it’s faster and a flexible option as there are always trains running between Brighton to Ore. This meant I could travel back to my hometown of Bexhill after my lectures easily. Another big factor in my decision was how commuting would help me save up some money, I only spend money on train tickets and nothing else, also homemade food is a nice bonus too! 

Another big factor in my decision was the fact that many of my friends and family live in my hometown, so it makes it easier for me to stay connected with them even when I head to my classes in Brighton. If I ever go through anything that might dampen my mood, I know that there are people around me that I can rely on and the same can be said for them. Sure, some people will find it easier to live independently and keep contact with their family through calls and text messages, but for me, I preferred to stay close to my family so I always have someone to talk to, I also like being available to them in case of any issues that they might be facing. Commuting to university is a way I can remain close with my family while also going out to explore and see new places and people. 

My commute to Uni

On a usual week for my course, I am in classes for three days of the week, taking part in lectures and a workshop, this consistent schedule is helpful for me as a commuter student as it saves me additional costs on train tickets and also helps me remember the train schedules, especially on Tuesday and Wednesday where I frequently commute! 
 
This is how I plan my commute: 

• Check my learning schedule for any upcoming dates with lectures or labs 

• Book train tickets for these dates – I recommend booking weeks in advance using ‘trainline’ as they are usually cheaper! 

• Wake up early, either at 07:00 in the morning on my earlier days or 09:00 when I have a slightly later start in the morning. Typically, I like to wake up three hours before the train arrives to give me enough time to freshen up and get to the station. 

• Pack my bag for the day, including a book I’ve chosen to read for my week, a snack, my phone charger and anything else I might need. 

• Take the 14-minute walk from my home to the station, here I get the chance to enjoy some fresh air while I make my way over, though it is less enjoyable when it rains! 

• Take a seat at the station and wait for my train, I usually either read a book that I packed in my bag for the day or prepare for my lecture by using my phone to read the weekly brief 

• Once I’ve boarded my train, I find a good seat (the nearest empty seat possible) and plug my phone in to charge, this means I still have full battery when I arrive even though I’ve been using it on the train! 

• During the train journey I will either continue reading my book or I will prepare for my lecture using my phone to search documents or get a heads up on the brief. Since it’s a one-hour journey to campus, I also gaze out the window, enjoying the views of the sea, fields and the weather. 
  
  I find my plan for commuting cost effective as my schedule means I only need to travel three days of the week for my lectures and workshops. Therefore, I can save some money to buy things I might want or need such as coffee, which definitely helps me get through the next week of classes! Commuting to university also encourages me to be organised and create a plan, it’s also helped me establish a sleep schedule, despite there being times that I wish I could sleep more!

My commuting tips

Some tips that I could give for anyone thinking about commuting to university are: 

• Plan: Always book your tickets early, the earlier you book them the cheaper they are! So, if you have a lecture happening the following Monday, instead of booking a ticket on the same day just book it two days or a week before the lecture! Checking the travel schedules or traffic close to the day of travel can also help you plan for occasions when you might have to make alternative arrangements. 

• Have a Snack on the go: There may be days where you are running late or are in rush to leave, having a snack already packed in your bag means you won’t go hungry on those busier days! It can also be a nice treat to purchase a snack as part of your journey, because attending a lecture on an empty stomach can be quite the hassle! 

• Have something to pass the time: It is always nice to have something to pass the time while you are commuting, especially on the train or bus! It could range from a book, a game or a friend you can talk to during the journey, find something to help you relax while you enjoy the ride. 

• Have a ‘Plan B’: I know there is always a chance the train service will be unavailable, so it’s useful to have an alternative travel option ready for such occasions. For me, this is often a bus journey to campus. Thankfully, most bus tickets are cheap, but I am required to wake up earlier to catch the nearest bus as they take longer than the train.  

• Enjoy the journey: No matter how far you live from your campus of study it is always nice to enjoy the journey that takes you to that campus. Use the journey as a momentary free break before you get back into your assignments and workshops. 

These tips are based on my own experience and things I have learned as a commuter student. Following these tips has helped me a lot in my own needs of travelling to the campus and I hope it can do the same for you! 

Final thoughts: why commuting to Brighton works for me

To close it off, I wanted to say that commuting to university has been a rewarding experience, it has allowed me to both see and experience different sights, perform some fun pass times on the train and get some nice and innovative ideas while on the train. So, to any prospective students thinking of travelling to university, if you are worried just know that the university is always there to help in case you have any queries about it. They have helpful staff and a lot of resources that can be useful to you along with the occasional travel funding schemes that are launched by the university, such as Brighton Boost 

So, I do hope my blog was helpful for you, all I have left to say is – Just enjoy the experience, even if the journey is long.