I was wondering how far people live from their university. This probably applies more to arts/humanities rather than lab-based Phds.
I work from home mostly and only go in to see my supervisor or for teaching. At the moment I live about half an hour away but I really want to live with my partner, whose work and family commitments mean he is living 150 miles away and can't move. I just wanted to know if people don't live near uni how does it work for them.

There are 15 PhD students in my department (humanities) - and only three of us live in the same city as the university. Other people live in other cities, including several in London, 185 miles away from our university. They travel in on the train in two hours for teaching, meetings and it seems to work for them.

Hi - I've just moved away from where my PhD is based, partly because of my partner's job. It takes me three hours to get there. It's worked quite well - I meet up with my supervisor once a month or so and get to see my friends back there. I would consider the possible effect on your career in that I can't possibly teach there now and also you do become even more isolated than before. But there's no way I would have stayed and moving here was part of a long-term plan for both of us as it's peaceful, beautiful and I'm about to have a baby! Good Luck!

oh sassy, good luck with the baby!

i moved out to the greenbelt in january, it now takes me an hour and 20 minutes door to door. i still go in to university 4days/week. the reason, here too, was to live with my partner. but i suppose that is not the kind of distance you were asking about, pamw.

A good friend of mine completed his PhD like this - I think the distance was about 150 miles (maybe more). He worked very independently and collected data locally. He is a very independent kind of person who does not need much support or supervision - I think you need to be. He is married and his wife had 2 children during that time.

I'm required to live within 10 miles and we're about to move to that limit! Astonishingly that will increase my commute for 25 mins (bike) to 1 hour (park and cycle/ride).

Sassy - good luck with the baby. I had a baby at the end of my second year.

I think that living a fair distance is fine - many other students where I am do the same (even 300 miles away - but travelling for supervisions)

My accomodation contract is up soon and I will hopefully be moving about 50 miles away and commute each day. Hopefully it will reinforce my "office job" mentality and get me working.

i live really close, walking distance - but being part time I might just as well be living in another country. I work in a school - not teaching- and it is really difficult to get to see my supervisor (who is being a bit, no, very difficult to get hold of at the moment)as I have to sneak out - only my HOD and a few others know I have left the building as last time I needed time off they gsve me a form so I could prove that I had made up the hours, rather rude when often I am the last to leave- and of course when I'm not at school neither are the people I need to see! I'm supposed to have a personal supervisor who is not part of the supervisory team, but is kind of pastoral and is supposed to smooth these sort of things out but I have still to get one and being part time it is hard to contact the people, as they leave before I can phone them. So, I suppose living at a distance is similar to being part time with the same sort of downsides.

Hi Smilodon and Shani - Thanks very much - just came on this morning and saw your messages! The baby is due in 8 weeks! Very excited and have managaed to get a fair bit done - nothing like a baby to spur you on! Anyway - don't want to take over the thread but thanks again - it was really nice to get your encouraging words!

I live about 45 mins away from uni, and I find it quite difficult. You don't really feel a part of it all. I usually can't be bothered to attend any of the lectures/seminars hosted by the various departments because of the hassle of getting home! On the other hand, it's very peaceful where I live, so when I go home, I really feel like I've walked away from it all. I think it will be an advantage in the summer because it will be an ideal place to work. Overall, I think I'd prefer to be closer to uni, so if I had an urge to work, I could just rush out the door and be at the library in 10 mins.

I live 45 mins drive away from Uni and it can be a pest when I just need to pop in for something but on the other hand it is nice to have some distance so I don't feel overwhelmed by constantly having to be there...I get so much more work done!

hi,
having tried both going to the university for teaching/working and working from home i would definetely reccomend the former. when i stopped teaching i would only work from home which lead to some really bad results.however, one needs to think of the practicalities since not all universities offer adequate facilities for phd students.

i studies 125 miles from my uni - it is very isolating

I live an hour away from my uni and find it very isolating. I also spend alot of money on transport which isn't helping my dire financial situation! I would love to live closer, but the rent is very high on properties in the areas near the uni. I really miss being able to 'pop in' whenever I need to, and I often have to turn down invites because there will be no buses running by the time I come home. I sometimes wonder if my social life would be better if I was nearer--it is certainly non-existent at the moment!

Hi! I live 45 mins away from my uni - on the greenbelt and generally i much prefer it. However, I have found that i haven't bonded with others in the department well because i don't go to uni very often at all and miss seminars and research group meetings because I think the time spent commuting would be better spent working. I would like to live in town so I went to these seminars more and just get myself around the department or could pop to the library. I think it depends so much on how you like to work - I am very happy working from home and only rarely miss hanging around at uni and drinking coffee and chatting - I generally catch up when I go and see my supervisor anyway (and get berated for not going in and socialising enough!). Also, interestingly, sometimes others in the department can make me feel stressed but at home I live in a happy, productive bubble! It is probably important that you can get to a good uni library as well in case you need *that* book! good luck!