Moving to a new country is exciting – but we know there’s a lot to think about, and sorting your accommodation is a big part of that.

You must attend in-person classes regularly, so it’s important to live somewhere close to our Talbot and Lansdowne Campuses. Most students have classes on several days each week, with sessions that can run anytime between 9am and 7pm. BU accommodation is a great option as you’re close to both sites, and you can choose to include a bus pass in your rent – handy for budgeting and getting around.

Attending class and choosing where to live

Because we can’t adjust individual timetables for travel issues and watching recordings of classes online is not counted as attendance, it’s really important to live within reasonable distance of BU. We do follow up on low attendance and regular attendance is a key part of BU course requirements and your student visa conditions. Unfortunately, living far away or struggling with transport costs isn’t considered a valid reason for missing classes.

If your attendance drops, you’ll be asked to meet with your Programme Team to work on a plan for improvement. If you’re not able to improve your attendance enough, you may be withdrawn from your course and for students on a visa, that would affect your visa sponsorship – so it’s something to take seriously from the start.

Transport options

Student sitting at a bus stop with a BU bus behind him

BU is based in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) area—the blue area on this map – and there are good public transport links to both our campuses. However, travel times and costs can vary, so always check your route beforehand. Public transport in the UK includes buses and trains that are available to everyone. This bus map (pdf 2.1mb) is available to explore local routes.

We strongly recommend considering BU accommodation. You’ll be living in Bournemouth or Poole and will be well-connected by public transport. It’s often more affordable than other options, and you can find all the details on our accommodation options page.

If you’re thinking of living outside the BCP area – maybe because accommodation seems cheaper or you plan to stay with friends or family – it’s really important to check whether you can travel to BU easily and affordably. Public transport costs in the UK can be high, and some areas don’t have frequent services to Bournemouth. 

Choosing where to live

Choosing the right location now will help you settle in more easily and avoid unexpected challenges later on. We recommend you choose BU accommodation due to it's close proximity to your place of study along with the other benefits it offers.

Driving to BU

If you're planning to drive, remember that you'll need to pay for parking, as well as cover the ongoing costs of running a car (fuel, insurance, maintenance, etc). Travel time can also vary a lot depending on traffic.

Public transport

If you’re using buses or trains, consider:

  • Cost: Train tickets in the UK can be expensive and the costs vary, depending on the date, day of the week and time you’re travelling. A 16 to 25 railcard can help reduce costs, but prices still vary. Bus tickets are usually cheaper, but journeys can take longer
  • Journey time: Work out how long it will take from your door to the classroom – ​not just to Bournemouth! This includes time getting from the train station or bus stop to BU. If your journey involves changing buses or trains, that adds time and increases the chance of delays, especially if you’re living in another city such as London or Southampton
  • Earliest arrival: You may need to be on campus for a 9am start, and some transport routes just don’t run early enough
  • Latest return: Some of your classes may finish as late as 7pm, so you’ll also need to be sure you can get home after that.

Travel time and cost examples

Route Duration Approximate cost (with 16-25 railcard) Other important factors
London Waterloo → Bournemouth (Train) 2 to 2.5 hours £50 to £110/day More expensive if older than 25
Southampton → Bournemouth (Train) 40 to 47 mins £13 to £30/day More expensive if older than 25
London Victoria → Bournemouth (Coach) 3 hours £15 to £20/day Earliest arrival to Bournemouth Coach Station is 9.30pm
Southampton → Bournemouth (Coach) 50 to 60 mins Varies Some days, earliest arrival is 11.30am — not reliable for 9am classes

Remember – even if a place looks close on the map, public transport might not run at the right times or frequently enough for your needs. Always check the full journey before committing to accommodation.

Helpful websites for journey planning

To help you decide if your accommodation options are feasible, it’s a good idea to check travel times, routes and ticket prices in advance. 

Make sure you explore travel options that get you to BU for a 9am start, and back home after a class that ends at 6pm or 7pm. Also, make sure that you're checking weekday journeys (Monday to Friday), as weekend times and prices can be quite different.

Don’t forget to share your UK address and phone number

Once you’ve arrived in the UK, make sure you give us your local address and phone number via myHub. This is really important – it’s a requirement for student visa holders, and it’s also important so we can get in touch with you if we need to and check in on your wellbeing if we’re ever concerned. Please also remember to update your address in myHub if you move at any stage. 

It’s a simple step, but it helps us support you during your time at BU and ensures compliance with immigration regulations.