Commuting

Are you thinking about commuting to university and want to know more about if it's actually doable? 

Lots of students at De Montfort University (DMU) choose to live at home and commute to campus, giving them the flexibility to shape university life in a way that works for them. With great transport links and everything close by, getting to Leicester is simple and convenient.

Whatever your reasons for commuting, you’re still able to make the most of everything university has to offer. From getting involved in our vibrant student communities to meeting new people and discovering new experiences, you can build connections, explore your interests, and enjoy student life - on your terms.

If you plan to drive to campus, you’ll need a valid parking permit to use DMU car parks. Three types are available: Student, Assessed Needs and Blue Badge, depending on your circumstances.

Student permits are available monthly via the DMU Store, with limited availability on a first-come, first-served basis. These permits allow parking in standard bays within the main car park only and are not valid at Trinity House, Bede Halls of Residence, or Beaumont Park.

Assessed Needs and Blue Badge permits are issued via the Disability Team and allow parking in any DMU car park, excluding visitor, reserved, and service bays. Blue Badge holders must also display their council-issued badge.

Holding a permit does not guarantee a parking space, as availability is subject to demand.

DMU is a member of liftshare.com, a free journey matching service for people across Leicestershire. It provides a simple way to connect with others travelling in the same direction so you can car share to university.

You can use the service by signing up with your DMU email address. Once registered, you’ll be able to search for and connect with other DMU students who are also looking to share journeys.

Bus travel is a popular and convenient option for DMU students, whether commuting into Leicester or travelling between campus and the city centre for study, work or leisure.

Leicester is served by ArrivaFirst Bus and Centrebus, offering regular routes across the city and surrounding areas. You can also save on regular travel with discounted Arriva student tickets, as well as travel free on the University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) Hospital Hopper bus by showing a valid student ID when travelling between hospital sites.

Or use our free Hop! bus, which runs a circular city centre route linking key destinations such as Leicester train station, the university and major central locations.

Travelling beyond Leicester is easy and affordable by coach, whether you’re heading home, visiting friends, or exploring other UK cities. With a wide network connecting major towns, cities and airports, it makes longer-distance journeys easy to plan in advance.

Bookings can be made online, with a range of affordable fares depending on when you travel. Students can also benefit from a Young Persons Coachcard, which offers discounted fares and extra savings for under 26s and students, helping to make travel beyond the city more affordable.

Leicester Railway Station is around a 20-minute walk from the city centre. It’s an easy connection to destinations across the UK. From the station, local buses and the free Hop! bus there are many options that provide quick and simple links into key central areas.

When it comes to planning your journey, services such as The TrainlineEast Midlands Railway and CrossCountry Trains make it easy to check times, explore routes and book tickets in advance, all in one place. You can also make travel more affordable with a 16–25 Railcard, which gives you up to a third off rail fares across the UK, helping you get more out of your journeys.

Cycling is a quick and affordable way to get around DMU and Leicester, helping you save on travel while staying active.

On campus, sheltered bicycle stands are available in the main car park (you’ll need your own lock) and there are also changing facilities in key buildings, making cycling a practical part of student life.

"I chose to commute because I’m a Leicestershire local and was living at home with my parents, which allowed me to save a lot of money compared to moving into accommodation. In terms of my studies, commuting worked well overall because I planned my time around my lecture schedule, often staying on campus between sessions to make the most of the day rather than travelling back and forth."

Daniel, BA (Hons) Marketing graduate

Student support

  1. Student spaces on and off campus

    On campus? Take advantage of your time between classes to reduce your workload at home.

    All of our buildings that you will study in house study spaces and corners for both individual and group study sessions. Our library also offers a wide range of study spaces suitable for individual and group study.

    Eric Wood and Greenhouse

    The Eric Wood building is home to our Commuter Student space which has group work tables as well as lockers. All DMU students 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.

    Vijay Patel

    On the 4th floor of Vijay Patel there is a balcony and indoor lounge space good for enjoying the nice weather (when it comes) and working in a bit of a busier hub, allowing you to lock in.

    Coffee shop studying

    Need a bit of noise in the background while you study? Check out a few of our on campus and off campus cafes.

    On campus

    • Hugh Aston - Coffee House
    • Kimberly Library Cafe

    Off campus

    • 200 Degrees
    • Cafe Nero
    • Starbucks
    • St Martins Coffee
    • Costa Coffee
    • 96 Degrees 
  2. Find your crowd

    Engage in our vibrant student life

    As a student, you’ve got access to over 150 student societies where you can build connections and fully immerse yourself in student life. Our groups are centred around shared interests, hobbies, cultural and religious identities, and academic areas of study. With regular social events and activities, you can discover new hobbies, develop your talents, explore your identity, and meet like-minded people, all while fitting it around your schedule.

    Be sure to check out DMUsport, where you can get involved in a wide range of high-quality, inclusive sport and physical activity opportunities. Our Leisure Centre offers modern workout facilities, as well as a swimming pool and rock climbing wall.

    What’s better than heading to a lecture, getting a workout in, and then settling into a study space to focus for the rest of the day?

  3. Top tips for commuters

    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.

    • Double check 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, organised, 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

 

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