Don’t let travel and distance be the reason why you don’t come to Surrey—this is why.
I live in London, and after applying to Surrey, I received an offer to study Electronic Engineering with Computer Systems. The course delivered everything I wanted, as the content matched my interests perfectly and the research and facilities were excellent, exactly what I was looking for to pursue a degree in this field. However, the only thing holding me back was the distance. I had a great opportunity, but I had to think carefully about such a big decision. I did not want to spend extra money on accommodation, and my parents strongly wanted me to stay with them, so I was almost going to give up on Surrey and move on to another university.
But then I thought more and did more research. Since I live in Whitechapel, the travel distance was quite far – I had to use Transport for London, take the District line and then the Northern line to reach Waterloo Station, and then catch a mainline train with South Western Railway, which is expensive outside London. However, after doing the calculations, I realised that even travelling every day would cost about half of what I’d spend on accommodation and living expenses. Don’t get me wrong—university accommodation is a great and more convenient experience, and if it suits you, go for it, but for personal reasons, commuting was the cheaper and more suitable option for me.
In terms of budgeting, I go to university four days a week and spend around £350+ per month on travel, which would be much more expensive without a few cost saving tips. Getting the 18-25 Student Railcard gives you one third off most train tickets, plus occasional extra discounts, and you can also buy weekly or monthly season tickets to save more. For travel within London, using an 18 plus Student Oyster card linked to your railcard, especially during off peak times which I wish I knew in my first year, cuts costs even further. All of this honestly made commuting possible and turned what felt impossible into something manageable.
I found ways to make my travel productive. I use a tablet to make notes and to watch my lecture recordings, so if I miss something, I catch up during the journey. I also watch tutorials, videos, or read related material to better understand the lecture content. My commute is about 1 hour and 40 minutes each way, so over 3 hours a day, but since I do the same things on the train that I’d do at home, the time doesn’t feel wasted. Changing environments actually helps me study better. It does take time to get used to, so don’t be discouraged at first; travelling is also great for small admin tasks like reading emails or catching up with friends.
I usually start by waking up at 7:30 a.m., as most of my lectures begin at 10:00 a.m. After waking up, I have a small breakfast, get ready, and leave home at around 8:10 a.m. I then head to Aldgate East on TfL, take the District line, and then switch to the Northern line, which takes about 35 minutes in total. After that, I get on a South Western Railway (SWR) train at exactly 9:00 a.m., which goes to Woking and then Guildford. I usually get off at Guildford at around 9:40 a.m. and then walk the rest of the way to campus. I’ve already mentioned what I usually do during the journey to make the travel productive. Depending on when my lectures finish—let’s say 5:00 p.m. for this example—I take the same route back home.
I didn’t make many friends on the train at first, but I was surprised to find many students who live in London and commute like I do, and when our timetables align, travelling back with a friend makes the journey much more fun.
On campus, my favourite spot is The Dot on the second floor of the reception building at the University of Surrey. It is like the library but less crowded, with calming park views and easy access to the road, bus stop, and walking routes, which makes studying there before leaving quick and convenient. The Surrey Students’ Union is also great for hanging out before heading home since Yorkie’s Bridge is nearby, and I usually stop by Hillside for a quick bite or the Co op for snacks.
To conclude, I hope I have convinced you, or at least given you an idea worth considering. Do not let travel and distance be the reason why you do not come to the University of Surrey. With the right planning, budgeting, and mindset, commuting can be manageable, productive, and even enjoyable.
By Electronic Engineering with Computer Systems student Shiam
