City Research Online

Abstract

Higher education in the UK has traditionally centred on students who relocate. However, an increasing number of students now remain at home and commute to campus instead. This shift might limit academic and social integration, which could hinder student retention and success While extant research notes the difficulties associated with commuting, little is known about the texture of these everyday mobilities. Given the gendered ways in which urban space is experienced, understanding how mobilities influence the educational journey is critical. Our article addresses this gap by drawing on a mixed methods research project conducted between March and April 2024, involving 19 women commuter students. We explore three research questions. First, how do women commuter students attending a city-based university commute to campus and how are these mobilities experienced? Second, how do students negotiate the varied spaces that comprise their everyday mobilities. Third, in what ways might these mobilities shape academic and social integration. Importantly, this study highlights that while the everyday mobilities of women commuter students should not be used to inadvertently reinforce outdated narratives, their experiences nonetheless reveal meaningful tensions between their lifeworlds and education. Universities should draw on these experiences to develop support ­tailored to this growing population.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2025 the Author(s). Published informa UK limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. theterms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
Publisher Keywords:	Commuter students, higher education, educational mobilities, city-based university, urban space, women students, everyday mobilities
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
Departments:	School of Policy & Global Affairs School of Policy & Global Affairs > Department of Sociology & Criminology
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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