Over recent years there has been a small but significant rise in the number of students living at home instead of moving into independent living. It is estimated that in Britain this year over 1 in 5 first year students will living at home. The figures for London are substantially higher, where it is estimated that two thirds of freshers are continuing to live at home.

At the heart of this shift in the social independence of students is government policy on education, which leaves students under-funded. The burden of financial survival means leaving home isn't an option for many students. Chief Executive of the University and College Admissions Service (UCAS) Tony Higgins, says: "Choosing a university or college that is close to home is one way of cutting down on your living expenses, and more and more students seem to be bearing this in mind." Economic factors are evidently influential in determining where students choose to live, as shown by Queen Mary student Michelle Schofield, who says: "I want to move out and independently but I'm scared of getting into loads of debt that I'll be paying off for years."

This growing trend may indicate that living at home could be a good option, however, two thirds of all students believe that those living at home do not gain the full benefit of being a student, and fresher's magazines strongly advise that you move out in your first year. So is living at home really the wrong option?

First year students who have chosen to live at home can find themselves disadvantaged socially, economically, and educationally, compared to their hall-living classmates. All this I know too well, as I'm a first year student who resisted the temptation of a parent-free life and chose to continue living at home. A decision I have regretted immensely.

The social disadvantages are often the most problematic, with even the friendliest home student finding it hard to integrate. Students living in the halls have a whole week to get to know the other people on their course before the academic term begins. This means many people have already grouped off before the first lecture, leaving home students feeling like outsiders. Ruth Bramwell, a student at the University of West England says: "I really don't think I could have survived my first couple of months at university if I didn't live in the halls. It's the easiest way to make friends. I already knew most of the people on my course before my first lecture as we had been drinking together in the halls."

Home students do not benefit from the whole university experience. They are often unable to participate in their university's social life because they are unable to travel home alone in the early hours of the morning. Whereas, most students living in the halls have their university's bars and clubs practically on their doorstep, and can travel back safely with their flatmates.

Living at home may be perceived as a cheaper option, but in reality it isn't. Home students can be left struggling for cash, as most have to pay their tuition fees (£1,100), ever-increasing transport costs (a yearly travelcard can cost as much as £1,476 in London), and a few pay rent to their parents, all out of their £3,005 yearly student loan. The government obviously fails to recognise that living at home can be as costly as living in independent accommodation as the maximum annual loan home students can receive is almost a thousand pounds less than those living away from home.

Surprisingly, making the choice to live at home can also led to a decline in your standards of work. Home students do not have their university's library resources at their disposal when they need them. In my experience, lectures frequently finish at 6pm or later, and with home students living an average of one hour away from their university site, they often do not arrive home until 7 or 8pm, by which time they're too tired to produce work of a high standard.

In the absence of their own quiet study environment it is also easy to be distracted by parents and siblings. Craig, who is studying law in London, says: "My little brother can be really irritating, he's always coming into my room when I'm trying to concentrate. I don't think I could move out though. I would miss my mom too much."

However, there can be an upside to living at home. If you think you can cope with living with your parents for another three years then at least home students know they will always be on call to provide advice, money, and their free "taxi service."

Home students can keep their friends outside their university, which few students who move away manage to do. They also don't have the pressures of learning to be self-reliant; doing all their own shopping, cooking, cleaning, and washing and ironing their own clothes, combined with the pressure of settling into university and coping with the hefty work load.

Thus, living at home can affect students both positively and negatively, but what is the impact on parents whose children choose to live at home? For parents it can be a time of anxiety with the parental role undergoing great change. Mullendore, author of the "Helping your first year college student succeed" guide for parents, says for both parents and students: "It is about renegotiating their relationship based upon the student's new status as a university student and adult."

If students are to live at home then parents have a responsibility to understand the ups and downs of the first year at university, to help their children make the transition from college to university, and allow them to have the freedom they would if living away from home.

If you don't want university to rule your life, and aren't ready for the pressures and responsibilities of self-sufficiency, then living in your parental home can be a good option. You need to weigh out the positives and negatives of living at home, to decide whether the option would suit them. As for me however, I'll definitely consider moving out next year.

Danielle Boobyer