Commuting to university

Many Brighton students choose to travel to university instead of living in halls, for all sorts of reasons.

Whether it's due to the cost of living or staying close to friends and family, commuting is a popular choice - you'll be in good company! Over 30% of our students are commuters.

If you don't live in halls, and you commute over 15 miles to your campus of study, you count as a commuter student.

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Why choose Brighton?

A connected city

Brighton is easy to get to, and it's well-connected to London and the south coast.

All three of our campuses are located near train stations, and there are regular bus services available to get you to and from university.

A map of the south-east of England, showing Brighton in relation to London, airports, and other nearby towns and cities

Travel support

Whether you're commuting by car or public transport, we have a range of support available to help you make the most of your studies.

Brighton Boost

Going to university is a great investment, but we know the cost can be a worry.

The Brighton Boost will help you to make the best possible start – with discounts and bursaries to support your cost of living and university services that make everyday things just that little bit easier.

Our support for commuter students includes:

  • Travel Boost: £700 for first-year travel costs for full-time undergraduates from eligible IMD Q1, Q2 or Q3 postcodes
  • Upgrades to the Travel Boost for students eligible for the University of Brighton Bursary
  • Upgrades to the Travel Boost for students eligible for the Estranged Student or Care Leaver Bursaries.

Find out more about the Brighton Boost.

Brighton Boost logo, featuring a drawing of a seagull riding a rocket

Commuting by public transport

All three of our campuses are located near train stations. For students who commute by train, Southern Rail offers the Unizone ticket, which gets you unlimited train travel in and around Brighton and can save you up to 70%!

Brighton & Hove Buses also has discounted student bus tickets, to make getting around the city easier.

Find out more about the Unizone ticket.

A train at Falmer station

Commuting by car

Parking is available at all of our campuses, and commuter students are eligible for an E-Permit which entitles them to park for free.

Find out more about parking on our campuses.

A long exposure shot of the Moulsecoomb campus at sundown, with trails of car headlights and taillights

Support for commuter students

Being a commuter student doesn't mean missing out on your studies - each student is assigned a Student Support and Guidance Tutor (SSGT) and a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT). They will help you manage the transition to university and achieve your goals.

There are lots of places to study on campus, including our 3 campus libraries packed with resources and support. There are also cafes and casual study spots, as well as our Students’ Union spaces.

We also have a range of online resources available that can be accessed from anywhere, including:

  • My Studies and My Brighton - online portals to your university
  • recordings of lectures (where available)
  • LinkedIn Learning
  • online library resources
  • Blackboard Ally, which allows you to download learning resources in a format that works for you
  • and an Office 365 subscription for every student.

Brighton Students' Union also holds regular online events, as do many of its societies.

A student meeting with a counsellor, on a blue background

Find out more about wellbeing at Brighton

Hear from some of our commuter students

How commuting shaped my life as a student

Being a commuting student has been a unique and transformative part of my university journey.

From train rides to lecture halls: my Brighton commuter story

When I decided to commute to university, I had no idea what to expect.

My experience as a commuting student to Brighton

At first, I was incredibly apprehensive about commuting to university and that’s not the only thing that has changed since then!

The ins and outs of the student commuting experience

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to juggle the thrill of university life with the reality of a daily commute?

Read more from our blog