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Commuting students

Many of our students at DMU live off-campus in the comforts of their own homes, and commute to campus. Whatever your reasons for commuting, there are still plenty of opportunities to engage in our vibrant student life, build new friendships, and discover your potential.

A city with links

Leicester’s central location is ideal for commuting, with direct transport links to big cities such as Birmingham and London just a one-hour train journey away, and Nottingham just 30 minutes away. Leicester Railway Station is easily accessible and conveniently located within a 15–20-minute walk away from our city-centre campus.


Funding your journey

Additionally, commuting students who travel more than 10 miles from their term-time address to the DMU campus may be eligible to receive financial support to help with high travel costs from DMU by applying for the DMU Support Fund.

 


Tips

We have compiled some helpful tips to make commuting to and from campus easier, and offer support and resources for planning and funding your journeys.

Engage in our vibrant student life

If you're a commuting student at DMU, joining one of our diverse societies is an excellent way to make the most of your student life. Our student groups are centered around shared interests, hobbies, cultural and religious beliefs, and academic areas of study. With regular social events and activities, you can discover new hobbies, nurture your talent, explore your identity and discover new friendships- all while working around your travel schedule.

Prepare in advance

It will be helpful to prepare everything you need the night before, especially if you have an early start or a long day.

  • Doublecheck your timetable to see what classes you have the day before and pack everything you need for those (notebooks, textbooks, laptop).
  • Get your clothes ready, and your lunch and study snacks packed so that you don’t have to worry about this just before your commute!

Make the most out of your time

Commuting is beneficial because you can set clear boundaries between study and life, however managing your time efficiently is really important.

  • Get to know your timetable in advance: You will receive your timetable one week before your classes start in the Autumn term. This is the ideal time to familiarise yourself with your schedule and make use of a journey-planner to plan your commutes ahead of time. This will help you be prepared, organized, and on-time to make the most of your classes We also suggest creating a journey timetable tailored around your classes, and to make note of what time you need to leave the house and start your journey each day.
  • Stay informed about your journey by checking the latest train or bus announcements.
  • Regularly remind yourself of your assignment deadlines and break down your assignment into weekly actions.
  • Use your commute time to:
    • Read over your lecture, seminar and revision notes so that your mind is refreshed when you start your classes
    • Catch up and rewatch your lectures to rejog your memory
    • Do your seminar reading for the upcoming weeks
    • Complete weekly tasks and reading for your assignments

Study on campus

While on campus, take advantage of your time between classes to reduce your workload at home.

With various study spaces on campus to enjoy, whether you want to work alone or study with a group of friends or classmates – there is a space for everyone.

All of our buildings that you will study in house study spaces and corners for both individual and group study sessions. However, our library service offers a larger range of study spaces.

Eric Wood & Greenhouse

The Eric Wood building is home to our Commuter Student space which has group work tables as well as lockers. All DMU student can enjoy the study spaces in Eric Wood (open 8am-8pm, Monday – Friday) and Greenhouse (open from 8:45am-5pm, Monday – Friday).

Kimberlin Library

Our main campus library, the Kimberlin Library, has four floors offering a range of individual and collaborative study spaces, fixed IT and loanable laptops. Kimberlin Library is divided into three types of study spaces for silent study, quiet study and collaborative study spaces.

You can also book your own Study Room.

It is open 24/7 which means whatever time you decide to arrive or leave, there will always be a space for you to study.

Use the Kimberlin Library Trail as a guide as you walk around the building, or have a look before you come and visit us to see where everything is located.

Law Library

The Law Library in the Hugh Aston Building consists of general study areas (including syndicate rooms) and a silent study area. It is open 9am-5pm, Monday – Friday.


Getting to and around Leicester

By bus

Until 31 December 2024, single bus fares in Leicester are capped at £2 to help you save money on your commute to and from campus, making student life a little bit easier.

As a DMU student, you can also use the University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) Hospital Hopper bus for free when you present your valid Student ID card, whether you are travelling to the hospitals or just want to get around Leicester. The service runs every 30 minutes from Monday to Friday, between Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital and Glenfield Hospital with additional stops at Beaumont Leys Centre, Hamilton Centre, the Railway station and Leicester’s Park and Ride hub at Jubilee Square.

Find the latest timetable and more information on the service.

By car

  • Parking on campus is limited. However, if you must commute to campus via car, Leicester is just off the M1 and close to the A1, allowing easy access to the North and South. The M69 and M6 are also close by and offer access to Birmingham, Wales and the South West. If you are travelling by car and using Sat Nav, use postcode LE2 7DP to be directed to the main central carpark.
  • Monthly student car park permits can be purchased through DMU online store. For more information and to reserve your permit, please visit the DMU online store.
  • Your purchase will entitle you to park in all university car parks* with the exception of Bede Hall of Residence, Trinity House and Beaumont Park.

By train

You can use apps like Trainline to plan your journey and buy your tickets, or you can buy directly from the train providers website.

On the app, you will stay up to date with train times, delays and cancellations and whilst sometimes these are last-minute, if you know in advance you can save some extra time and if possible, utilise that time for your studies while you wait.

To save money and keep the costs down, book your travel tickets in advance and get yourself a 16-25 railcard to save up to 1/3 off your train journey. 

By bike

There are sheltered bicycle stands in our main car park. You will need to bring your own chain or lock. Find out more information about student cycling.