Student bus tickets in Scotland!

Whether it's helping your child get to college, university or work, or making it easier for them to come home for a visit, you can send selected bus tickets directly through the Stagecoach Bus App.

How to send a ticket:

Friends and family can also send tickets, making it easy to lend a helping hand with travel costs and keep students connected throughout the year.

Freshers' season is here 🚍🎓

Come along and meet the team at a Freshers' event near you. Whether you're new to campus or returning for another year, we'll be on hand to help you get around for less.

Find out about free bus travel for under 22s, discounted student tickets, journey planning tips and the Stagecoach Bus App. Plus, grab some free goodies while you're there!

Keep your eyes peeled – we'll be popping up at:

Free travel, student savings, prizes and plenty of bus chat – come and say hello! 👋🚌

Travel made easy with the Stagecoach Bus App

Buy a Student ticket in the Stagecoach Bus App and use it straight away, or buy now and transfer it later. Great if you're buying a ticket for someone else.

Join over 2 million people using the Stagecoach Bus App to buy, store and use their tickets all in one place. No paper tickets. No hunting through your bag. Just tap, travel and go.

You can see exactly where your bus is in real time, so if you're walking to the stop or already waiting there, you'll know when it's on its way. Plan journeys with Google powered journey planning and check live departure times, so you're always one step ahead. Plus, your ticket is stored safely in the app, ready whenever you need it.

From your first lecture to your last bus home, the Stagecoach Bus App helps keep your day moving.

Download the Stagecoach Bus Appand get your student travel sorted:

Need help getting from A to B? we've got you

Search for campuses, cafés, shops and landmarks, or simply tap the map to choose exactly where you're heading. We'll show you the best journey options, including services from all bus operators not just Stagecoach, so you can find the route that works for you.

Show me the best route

Student bus travel questions? we’ve got you

Get answers to common questions about student bus travel, including buying student tickets, accessing discounts, using the Stagecoach App and planning your journey.

Find answers to your student travel questions

Student travel made simple

🎟 Save money. Travel more

Student tickets offer discounts or free travel in many areas, helping you go further so you can spend more on the things that matter.

🚌 Go wherever student life takes you

Enjoy unlimited travel across your chosen travel zone with the student ticket that's right for you. Check your local area page for routes, zones and ticket options available near you.

📅 Choose a ticket that fits around you

Travel as much as you like within your chosen travel zone with a student ticket that's right for you. Visit your local page for routes, zones and ticket options near you.

Under 22s - FAQs

Who can get free bus travel? 

Every 5–21 year old living in Scotland can travel for free by bus access free bus travel if they have a valid National Entitlement Card (NEC) or Young Scot National Entitlement Card (Young Scot NEC). If you are 5–15 years old, your parent or guardian will apply for you. If you are 16–21 years old, you should apply for your own NEC or Young Scot NEC. Children under 5 years old do not need an NEC as they can already travel for free on buses. 

What do I need to apply for free bus travel?

Before you get started, there are a few documents you need to speed up the application process. 

Free bus travel for under 16:

• Sign in or register at mygovscot
• Look out your proof of identity - passport, driving licence, young scot card, biometric residence permit are all accepted or use your Yoti account 
• Parent, guardian or carer proof of address - a council tax or bank statement can be used 
• Birth certificate for children under 11, passport, young scot card, biometric residence permit 
• Proof of child's address if they don't live with you 
• Child's birth or adoption certificate 
• A recent digital image of the child (if aged 11+) showing head and shoulders 

Don't worry if you can't apply online, you can contact your local council for more information on drop in centres for your area. 


Free bus travel if you're aged between 16-21 and applying yourself:

• If you already have an active NEC or NEC Young Scot NEC, you can activate free travel on your card with the Transport Scot Pass Collect app right away 

Or 

• Sign in or register at mygovscot 
• A recent digital photo showing your head and shoulders 
• Proof of passport, driving licence, young scot card, biometric residence permit are all accepted or use your Yoti account 
• Proof of address 

Remember, to use free bus travel you need to replace your current card with a new one. If you don't have a valid card, you will need to pay your bus fare in the normal way. 

Students - FAQs

What do I need to get my student ticket?

Our student bus tickets are available to any students at either college or university with valid student ID.  You can show this to the driver with your student ID card, a digital ID or the Unidays app. 

Can I get a student ticket on my StagecoachSmart card?

Yes, 7 day MegaRider tickets can be loaded onto your StagecoachSmart card by the driver.  

4 week MegaRider tickets can be purchased from our website (and loaded onto a StagecoachSmart card) or from the Stagecoach Bus app.  

Flexi tickets can only be purchased on the Stagecoach Bus app as mobile tickets. 

What do I do if I lose my student ticket?

By registering online with Stagecoach, you can keep the tickets you purchase safe and secure. Download your purchase and activate it before you use it.

We realise there's a small chance of you losing your ticket, please look after it as it's a valuable item. If you do lose it, contact our customer services team with a crime reference or lost property number from the police, and a replacement may be considered. 

Do I need to show my student ID every time?

Yes, you must show your valid student ID when buying a physical ticket, or when buying via the app or online. You must also show your valid student ID to your driver when you board the bus. This can be a physical student ID or a digital ID.

Can I cancel my student bus ticket?

To cancel, change or get a refund on a paper ticket, send the ticket and an explanation to Stagecoach in your area, where it will be reviewed on an individual basis.  

To cancel your StagecoachSmart ticket, log in to your account via the website and select the Manage My StagecoachSmart section of your account.  

Your StagecoachSmart ticket can also be cancelled or refunded by calling the StagecoachSmart customer services team on 0345 810 1000.   

View full terms and conditions

I live in Scotland for part of the year. Can I still get free bus travel?

If you live in Scotland for the majority of the year (at least 6 months), then you are eligible. This could be if you study and live in one council area but your family home is in another.

I've got my NEC card with free bus travel, how do I use my card? 

When you board the bus, hold your card to the reader at the top of the ticket machine, the bus driver will record your journey.  Remember to ask the bus driver if you've any questions and let them know where you're travelling to before you remove your card. 

Where can I go under the free bus travel scheme?

You can travel anywhere in Scotland on local and long distance bus services, apart from a few exceptions such as premium-fare night buses, city sightseeing buses, some airport transfer services, and some closed school bus contracts.  Please check within your area which services are included. If you are travelling to England, you will be able to travel to Carlisle or Berwick-Upon-Tweed, but you cannot travel within these towns.

What should I do if my National Entitlement Card doesn't work on the bus?

We know like any smartcard, your card might become broken or cracked that's why it's important you look after it.  If you notice it's damaged, you can apply for a replacement at getyournec.scot or contact your local authority,  If your NEC doesn't work on the bus, the scheme rules mean you have to pay your bus fare until your replacement card arrives. 

I've lost my card - can I travel for free without it? 

No, you can only travel for free with a valid National Entitlement Card (NEC)/Young Scot NEC for travel each time you travel by bus, if you don't have your card you will need to pay a fare. 

For the full FAQs go to Transport for Scotland website