Online learning and teaching during the pandemic: the experience of commuter students

This paper reports findings from primary research into the experience of commuter students during the pandemic.

The number of ‘commuter students’ in UK HE – students who continue to live at home whilst studying, rather than moving into student accommodation – is increasing. However, studies into the experience of commuter students suggests that many Universities are failing to meet their needs. Commuter students are more likely than non-commuter students to drop out of their studies and less likely to gain ‘good’ degrees.
Pre-pandemic research highlights exclusion from the learning community, practical problems (timetabling, support, space) and pressures arising from home/work as reasons underlying the commuter student attainment and experience gap. My own research suggests that transport ‘costs’ are significant influencers on student outcomes, including acceptability (comfort, convenience, reliability, safety, the ability to multitask during the journey), accessibility, affordability, availability.

On this basis, a suggested benefit of the pandemic may be the elimination of the commute, overcoming transport ‘costs’ and facilitating easier and more equal access to multiple aspects of learning for commuter students.

This paper explores this hypothesis through unstructured depth interviews with 14 commuter students a single post-1992 University. The maximum variation sample includes a range of demographics, mode use, travel duration, residential location, Course and level.

Commuter students reveal their pandemic experience, considering the academic and personal costs and benefits of the move online and the elimination of the commute.
The paper concludes with practical steps that Universities should take, to improve online learning for all students, plus specific actions to benefit our commuter students as we return to on-campus learning.