The perks of living in Falmouth when studying in Penryn

This article was written by Fashion Marketing BA(Hons) student Belle.

Once you’re over the hump of choosing which uni to go to, finding out which halls of residence you have been placed in can be nerve racking, and you may find it a concern if you are placed in an accommodation which is not on, or near, your campus in your first year.

If this is the case, and you are unfamiliar with the Penryn and Falmouth area, it may seem to you inconvenient to study in one town and live in the other. But fear not, many students who study on the Penryn Campus commute in from Falmouth and it certainly has a bunch of benefits, which will make your Penryn-based friends jealous.

The first key thing to address is that Falmouth and Penryn have excellent transport connections with buses and trains running regularly from Falmouth to Penryn. 

Bus

• All 'First Bus' buses departing from Falmouth go to the Penryn Campus.
• The U3 bus has a shortened route with fewer stops for students to travel straight from Falmouth Town to the Penryn Campus.
• All buses run regularly with at least one bus departing every 5-10 minutes. The U3 departs every 20 minutes.
• U1, U1A, U2, U4 buses take about 20-25 minutes from Falmouth to the Penryn Campus depending on business and traffic.
• The U3 takes about 15 minutes as it takes a more direct route.
• The U3 only runs on weekdays but other routes are available all week.
• You can buy tickets via the First Bus app or by asking the driver.

Train

• Depending on where in Falmouth you live, the train journey to Penryn can take anywhere from 4 minutes to 10 minutes.
• During the day, trains depart every 30 minutes, cutting down to every hour after 8pm.
• Investing in a railcard will help you save money on journeys, but is only valid to use on trains after 10am. 
• There is a 15-minute uphill walk from Penryn Station to the Penryn Campus.

Car

• Follow this link to see info for on-campus parking tariffs.
• Driving to campus gives you more flexibility with when you can leave your house.
• As an environmentally conscious university, Falmouth encourages taking public transport or carpooling.
• Carpooling helps to reduce emissions and you can split the cost of travel with your friends! 

Now that we have covered how you can get from Falmouth to Penryn with ease, let’s look at the benefits! 

1. The Town – Falmouth has a long and beautiful high street brimming with places to visit including independent cafes, cosy pubs, quirky venues, and lots of places to shop and browse. This is a great perk on the weekends and evenings, as you can avoid needing to travel in and out of town when you just want to have a stroll through town or when you want to go home after a night out. 
2. The Coast – I’m sure that a big reason why you have chosen to come to Falmouth University is for its beautiful scenery and coastal location. When living in Falmouth, you are miles closer to all the beaches and costal walks than those who are living in Penryn. This makes a beach day or stroll by the sea that little bit more convenient and accessible.
3. Work-Life Balance – As a third year, I have learnt that it is easier to devote my working hours by travelling up to campus and staying there for a few hours, even if I don’t have lectures. Since home isn’t just down the road, I feel more committed to getting my work done for the day on campus before I set off home. This helps with being able to mentally leave my uni work at campus and enjoy my free time when I’m back home.