Transport for Students
Borders College delivers its programmes using a blended learning approach where students will be required to attend practical classes on campus alongside online delivery for other aspects of the course.
In support of the Scottish Governments green agenda and our own sustainability strategy, we encourage students to make use of the public services provided by various contractors throughout the Borders area. In addition, students living along the Borders Railway have train travel as an option.
Students who are eligible for funded bursary support, over the age of 22 and live more than 3 miles from their College base will be considered for a travel pass to enable travel to the relevant College campus for the days required for practical classes. Students who are entitled to concessionary or free travel, including under 22’s, are expected to use these options for travelling to College.
If you live in Scotland and are 5-21 years old you are eligible for a card giving you free bus travel.
How to Apply for Free Bus Travel
There are several ways to apply for a new or replacement Young Scot National Entitlement Card (Young Scot NEC):
- Online at?getyournec.scot
- Directly with your local council. You can find their details on the Young Scot website Young Scot National Entitlement Card | Young Scot
- Already have a National Entitlement Card (NEC)? If you’re aged between 16 and 21 and you already have an active NEC or Young Scot NEC, you can download free bus travel onto your existing card using the Transport Scot Pass Collect app. This means you may not need to apply for a new card to access your free bus travel. Active cards are those received since 2016 – they will have a long number next to the ITSO logo and, if there’s a date of birth shown, it will be highlighted with a pink strip.
Transport Scotland’s Pass Collect app
Transport Scotland Pass Collect app 'how to guide' - YouTube
More information about the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel Scheme, can be found by visiting the?Transport Scotland website - Transport Scotland
We also recommend you download the Borders Buses App, which will allow you to find current information on bus times and routes.
An electronic travel ticket is normally available to students who live out with the town off, or more than 3 miles from, their College base and who qualify for funding support. You will be able to apply for travel when you make your application for student bursary funding and College will procure your travel ticket which will then be available to you via the Border Buses Travel App. The public service bus routes cover all the main towns in the Borders at the times required.
Higher Education Students are entitled to apply for funding support from Students Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). Students on SAAS support receive a contribution towards travelling expenses within their award and are required to budget for their daily travel to and from College from the monthly SAAS allowance paid.
For students who live on the Borders Railway route, regular services run throughout the day between Edinburgh and Galashiels/Tweedbank and you may wish to use this as an alternative to bus travel. If you wish to be considered for this alternative, please email studentfunding@borderscollege.ac.uk.
The Scotrail website provides information regarding safe travel, timetables and service updates. This information is available here.
If you are travelling to College by train, remember that you can get discounted rail travel by applying for a 16-24 railcard.
Travel allowances will not be available to students who either live in the town where, or within a 3-mile radius of, the Campus their college course is based at.
Exceptional circumstances - Only in exceptional circumstances will a travel allowance be considered in place of a bus or train pass. E.g. medical circumstances or caring responsibilities. If you wish to be considered for an alternative to a travel pass then please email studentfunding@borderscollege.ac.uk explaining why.
Information for students about eligibility to concessionary fares and free travel is available at
You can find more information regarding bus travel provided by Border Buses here. We recommend students download the Border Buses mobile app. This will provide the latest service information, timetables and seat availability on each of their services.
Traveline Scotland is also a very useful resource for planning journeys. It covers all public transport options throughout the region and beyond. This resource is available here.
Border Buses Information Flyer
If you are eligible for Borders College free bus travel, scan the QR code, available on the flyer, to view the handy explainer video, showing you how to access your tickets.
Useful Bus Transport Information
We have pulled together an overview document with some useful information for bus travel including times and bus numbers that may be useful for your travel to College . We advise you to check out the Borders Buses website where all the timetables for all the Borders services are available.