If you’re heading off to university or college this month, particularly if it’s your first time away from home, chances are that you won’t want to travel back home that often. However, at some point you’ll inevitably need Mum to do your washing and you’ll return home to catch up with your school friends. If you’ve chosen a university far away from home, travelling back via public transport can be costly, but no one wants to come and pick you up either! Holiday Numbers has a guide to the best companies for cheap student travel, meaning you can get home without breaking the bank.
First Bus
Admittedly, this one isn’t so much for travelling long distance, but if you live in a large university city like Manchester, your campus may be a fair distance from your halls. This is where the bus comes in handy to save your legs from walking. Some universities do offer free shuttle buses between campuses, but if yours doesn’t, First Bus can help. They offer a wide range of tickets for students, allowing you to choose the type of ticket you need according to the frequency of travel and your budget. 
If you’re planning to use the bus for every occasion, from lectures to nights out, you may wish to consider an All Term pass. This is the most expensive option, but covers you from September-July for all bus travel. You can also get monthly passes, or just one for the first term, so that you can use the bus until you get to grips with the layout of your university city. If you don’t plan to use the bus quite so regularly, you can still get student day tickets and fares.
First Bus times are quite frequent and cover a range of routes.
Stagecoach
Stagecoach has probably one of the best systems for student travel. Their ticket is called Unirider and is available across many student cities, such as Plymouth, Sheffield and St. Andrews. If you don’t wish to pay for a whole term, you can pay as you go with £1 fares or a weekly dayrider pass. The choice is yours! Stagecoach bus times are regular across many student cities.
Megabus UK
Megabus is already well known for its cheap long-distance fares, but now they’ve expanded so you can even go on holiday with them! Travel to the likes of Barcelona and Amsterdam, it does take a lot longer but it’s a fraction of the price. Plus, students with an NUS card can now get an extra 10% off their booking. 
TFL (Transport for London)
London has some of the best universities, but the cost of living in the capital can be sky-high. TFL luckily offers an 18+ student Oyster card, so you can save money on bus and tube travel. If you are over 18, live in a London address during term time or you’re on a mandatory work placement there, you could be eligible. TFL Journey Planner is also a tool you can use to plan your route around London.
Train Travel
If you are aged between 16-25, you can get a young person’s student railcard which will enable you to save up to a third on your rail fares- perfect for those journeys home at Christmas and Easter.
Wherever you decide to go to university, the local economy knows how to look after it’s students, so you’ll find prices specifically for students on a range of things from travel to food. Make sure to invest in an NUS card to take advantage of all the discounts!
