Commuter students in higher education institutions in Ireland. A student-centred, whole provider approach to improve student experiences and outcomes.

Posted on 11 September 2025

During 2024/25 Liz Thomas undertook research with higher education institutions in Ireland to explore commuter students’ experiences and to consider changes that would improve their experiences and outcomes.

It addressed the questions:

How does being a commuter student impact on student experiences and outcomes in higher education institutions in Ireland?
How can higher education institutions improve the experience and outcomes of commuter students?

It found that some fundamental changes are required within higher education institutions to engage and support commuter students effectively. All institutions however are encouraged to implement the quick wins suggested below before the start of the new academic year.

Make commuter students visible on the website, eg welcome students to the institution, rather than the area; include information about travel as well as accommodation; include commuter student stories about studying and engaging in wider activities; provide tailored FAQs for commuter students.
Explicitly welcome commuter students to the institution during induction and celebrate what they contribute to the institution (eg knowledge of the area; links to the community and region; time management and organisational skills).
Create a point of contact for commuter students and encourage commuter students to identify themselves to the institution. They can be given information and support about travelling, studying and wider engagement, and be alerted directly about class cancellations etc.
Encourage commuter students to get to know each other so that they can travel together, car share and meet on campus or in their local area.
Promote a lounge or space for commuter students to spend time, store belongings, charge electronic devices etc, and consider providing a breakfast or lunch for commuters.
Identify programmes with particularly high numbers of commuter students and develop a ‘compassionate’ timetable for commuters.
Organise staff training to raise awareness of commuters’ experiences and encourage and facilitate staff to find out about their commuter students.
Teaching staff should acknowledge the existence of commuters in their classes, discuss their experience and make some adjustments, eg anticipating some late arrivals; providing recordings or summaries online; using the VLE tools to facilitate engagement before, during and after teaching.
Develop guidance for group working using online platforms to encourage inclusion of commuter students.
Work with the Students’ Union to organise a day-time activity in your academic or professional service area, or to set up a commuter-led group, or to deliver society talks and meetings online.
Offer one-to-one student support via online platforms and at flexible times.
Develop a hybrid commuter student forum to meet others and raise issues of concern, to provide representation, hear commuter student voices and to generate an action plan.

Read the full guide: QuickWins Commuter Students guide (PDF , 476kb)