“It feels like a job …” Understanding commuter students: Motivations, engagement, and learning experiences

To understand tourism and events commuter students' motivations, engagement, and learning experiences, semi-structured interviews with 14 students at a university in the UK were undertaken. These interviews revealed that in addition to increased tuition fees which incentivise the presumed cost-effective choice of commuting, mental health issues appear to be another major reason why commuter students decide to stay at home for the duration of their course. The findings also indicate that while commuter students in this study tended to prioritise their academic integration, social integration with peers and participating in extracurricular activities were lacking, thus hindering their sense of belonging. As a result, several recommendations for universities are identified and proposed which could enhance commuter students’ sense of belonging. While the findings are particularly relevant to policymakers and academics in the UK, they resonate more widely in an era of changes in higher education on a global scale.