Interview with a home-living university student

Hayley Williams – Interviewer

Ria Bramwell – Respondent

Hayley: “Hello Ria, my name is Hayley. Thank you so much for agreeing to do this interview with me.”

Ria: “Hi Hayley. You're welcome.”

Hayley: “So as a student who decided to stay at home for university in London, what made you decide to do this choice?”

Ria: “I decided to stay in London because I didn’t really feel like I had a particular need to move away from home. I didn’t feel like I was ready. So because of this, I didn’t really want to spend my degree wishing to be back at home, which would then affect my studies, and I also felt like I had everything I already needed at home in London. I had my job in Boots and my friends and my family.”

Hayley: “Students living in accommodation often have their university in close proximity to them. Being that you go to Queen Mary’s, how do you find the journey compares?”

Ria: “The journey is much longer for me than the people that chose to live in an accommodation near the university. I usually have to wake up much earlier than them to get to lectures and I have to consider the journey times when I’m deciding if I should complete my work at university, on campus or if I should wait till I get home.”

Hayley: “Many university students living away from home use their student finance to afford their accommodation and pay for food etc. As a living at-home student, what do your student finances help you with?”

Ria: “Because I don’t typically use my student finance for accommodation, I instead use it to help with any textbooks I may need for my modules, as well as the cost of travel to university. It can also help with other things such as driving lessons and helping with rent at home when I can.”

Hayley: “Going back to your comment of working at Boots, so student retail workers transfer to a branch closer to their university when they move away. Did you consider this when deciding you were going to stay home for university?”

Ria: “I did consider the fact that I could transfer to another Boot near my university if I decided to move away, but then I also realised that I already am used to how the store operates where I am. I already get on with the people well and the hours are suitable for my university studies. And then I also knew of a few people who tried to transfer and they couldn’t so I decided it wasn’t worth the risk of moving out and having to look for another job.”

Hayley: “Okay, thank you so much, Ria, for agreeing to do this interview with me.”

Ria: “Thank you, Hayley.”