The 07.03 from Watford High Street to Dr Page's 9 o'clock lipid lecture

The 07.03 is a real and typical example of the realities faced by many students who attend university today, this journey exemplified by no less than four train connections then a choice of a bus ride or 20-minute walk to campus demonstrates the commitment of many students particularly those attending university in large cities such as London. There is no doubt that commuting provides some universities with many of their unique features but at the same time presents them with distinctive challenges that run right to the heart of how they manage their student engagement activities from transition, learning and teaching strategies, timetabling and ultimately students' employability options. Our research has shown that up to 65% of our students commute, and when reviewed against other characteristics such as ethnicity reveal that double the number of BME students commute compared to their white counterparts. This is exacerbated by the fact that most of our bioscience students (approx. 80%) are BME students, and when surveyed were less likely to have chosen to attend university to experience university life, meet new people or experience new places. The inclusive strategies that we have taken in terms of improving the student experience from transition, learning and teaching (content availability, assessment delivery strategies, policies), changes to timetable delivery, development of co-curriculum activities, use of social media and the promotion of greater staff empathy will be reviewed.