Transport for Students

Picture of a bus

Support towards the cost of transport is normally available within the Scottish Borders region for bursary/EMA students who are attending  Further Education courses and who reside more than three miles from their College base. Such students are issued with a bus pass, although in exceptional circumstances a petrol allowance may be arranged.

Students receiving support through SAAS are required to pay for their daily travel to and from College although this cost is, at least in part, covered to those in receipt of the maximum loan available.

 

Key Points

One Tickets are for routes needing more than one bus company or not covered by First Bus - issued per calendar month.

  • One Tickets cannot be used outwith the Scottish Borders – if you try to use them in other areas (e.g. Edinburgh) the driver will take the ticket from you and you will not be issued with a replacement.
  • If your journey to college starts and ends outwith the Borders area you will have to pay for the part of the journey beyond the boundary.
  • You may be issued with a One Ticket for a route which is covered by a college bus – if seats become available you will be changed to a college Travel Card.

First Zone tickets for First Bus routes – issued 4-weekly. These tickets can only be used on First Bus routes a short distance from the Galashiels Campus (e.g. from Selkirk, Melrose, Stow).

 

College Travel Cards for

  • Q101 – a college bus to Galashiels and Newtown run by Travelsure that picks up at;  Eyemouth, Ayton, Chirnside, Duns, Greenlaw and Earlston.
  • It then turns into the Newtown St.Boswells Shuttle where it collects students travelling to Newtown from Galashiels, Tweedbank and Melrose.
  • Q102 – a college bus to Galashiels run by First that picks up at; Kelso, St Boswells, Newtown Campus and Newtown outside the council offices.
  • E11 – a college bus to Newtown run by Austins that collects students from Hawick and Selkirk.

All Tickets - Important Points to Note

  • Students should note that these bus tickets are not “free” – the college pays up to £100 per month for each ticket so they must be treated with care.
  • You must collect your new tickets before the old one expires – if you try to travel with an expired ticket the bus driver will take it from you and you will not be given a replacement.
  • Tickets should be collected from the Student Advice Centre in Galashiels or from reception in Hawick or Newtown.
  • Wherever possible tickets will be available for collection one week before the expiry date.
  • If, in exceptional circumstances, you are unable to collect your tickets before the expiry date, they can be posted to your home address, or can be collected on your behalf if you authorise this. In both cases you must sign for your pass on return to college.
  • Tickets not collected within one week of the start date will be returned to the supplier.
  • If you lose your ticket or if it is stolen or damaged you will have to pay your own fares until a replacement can be issued. You will be charged £5 for a replacement.

Travel to Placements

  • All placement transport requests must be made by your Placement Officer.
  • If you request a mileage allowance you will not be paid for the first 3 miles each way.
  • If you need any help with bus routes to college you can either talk to the Transport Administrator in the Student Advice Centre in Galashiels campus (01896 662518)or visit the “plan your journey” section at www.travelinescotland.com.