With the cost of living still sky-high, more students than ever are choosing to live at home during uni, and honestly, I don’t blame them.
Official figures from the Universities and College Admissions Service (UCAS) show 30 per cent of 18-year-olds now say they’re living with parents, compared with 14 per cent in 2007.
But this year’s freshers are left to contend with a pretty stark reality: Rents are soaring, graduates are laden with debt and can’t find relevant jobs to repay their loans, and a new report says you have to work at least 20 hours a week just to survive.
So, if you’re one of the growing cohort living at home for uni in 2025, it might feel like you’ve made the best move financially, but the worst move socially. That’s why we’re here to show you that moving into halls really isn’t the be all and end all. You can have the full uni experience whilst living with family, and here’s how to make sure of that – without splurging a grand on rent each month.
Don’t wait for a social life to find you – be intentional about creating one for yourself
A lot of uni friendships are really solidified during those late-night kitchen chats, or the hungover debriefs in your flatmate’s bed. But that definitely doesn’t mean you can’t have those relationships; it’s just about being intentional in creating them, rather than assuming the experiences will find their way to you. If you’re living at home for uni in 2025, you might feel like you’re you’ll miss out on this but that’s not the case.
That might look like actually messaging the girl you met in your lecture on Tuesday morning, or the society president you were chatting to during Freshers’. Ask if they want to meet up for a coffee, or join you in a study sesh, or suggest going to a bar together later that week. Use every opportunity to get chatting, especially if you’re going to a uni near your home.
After all, you’ll have so much wisdom to bestow about this place, having lived there all your life, compared to the newbies who don’t have a clue yet.
Actually go to stuff (yes, including your lectures)
I know, I know. It’s not fair. All your mates get to skip their 9ams (and their 11ams, and their 3pms), and still get loads of socialising done, but you might have to actually do some of your degree in order to make those same friendships.
However, not only will it mean you get used to seeing familiar faces each day and bonding over how wild it is that you’re paying for this quality of education, you might even learn something mildly interesting every now and again too. Joining societies is another incredible way to spread your wings, and most unis have a society for quite literally everything, so go wild with the sign ups early on, and you can always drop the ones you don’t like later in the year.
Build a cute campus routine
Following on from that, really try and treat campus like your base. Don’t go straight home after every lecture. Spend time in the libraries, eat with course mates (this doesn’t have to mean eating out – just find some nice spots around uni), and attend all the random events you’ll definitely be getting emailed about from your Students’ Union each week.
The more time you spend on campus, the more naturally you’ll find yourself immersed into student life.
Communicate with your family (because they probs will drive you up the wall at times)
Moving out can sometimes be seen as a hallmark for establishing yourself as an independent adult. So it’s important that (if your circumstances allow for it) you try and set some boundaries with family about space and independence, to make sure you feel like you’re transitioning into adult life too.
Share your timetable in the family group chat (and pin it, or those boomers will accuse you of having never sent it through at all), so people know your deadlines, placements and lecture dates. They might be less likely to interrupt during important times of the year, and more likely to be understanding when you’re stressed out. Plus, having family around can be grounding when uni gets too much – the very people driving you up the wall could be the ones making you dinner after a long day.
Say yes! (Within reason, because I refuse to get the blame if you fail first year)
Maybe you’re got more of a Type A personality than a Type B one, but this is your era for cosplaying as both. As the old adage goes: Fake it till you make it. Embrace flexibility and spontaneity by saying yes to that random society social, staying at events a little later than you planned, and going to that party even if you aren’t drinking (by the way, nobody actually cares if you’re on water – they just want you there).
I’m well aware I did just tell you to go to your lectures in a previous point, but sometimes it’s worth missing those seminars if it means staying up late at a mate’s flat to watch a film, or just chatting absolute shit with the girlies till 3am. Bring a spare outfit in your bag at all times if you must.
Your experience living at home for uni in 2025 is going to be lived in a million different ways, and I promise scrimping out for an obscenely expensive dorm room in halls doesn’t have to be one of them!