Student and Apprentice travel

Welcome to our web page that's just for students and apprentices. 

We know money can be tight when you're studying or on an apprenticeship, so that’s why we want to make sure you know all about the great deals and offers we have available for you. You can get great savings of up to 36% off bus tickets provided you can verify you are a student when using our app or key smart-card.

Student fares effective from 1st January 2025

citySAVER

For more details on valid fare zones please check here.

citySAVERS are not valid on City Sightseeing or Night Buses. However, they can be used on some other bus companies services, see full listing.

networkSAVER

Valid on all Brighton & Hove buses except the City Sightseeing. They are also valid on our Night buses. See here for fare zones and map.

networkSAVERs can be used on some other bus companies services, see full listing.

Prices for key tickets bought from Brighton Travel Hub, 27 North Street Brighton or at our Travel Desk at 43 Conway Street Hove cost slightly more. Click here for details.

Other fares that might be available

18 Year Old Students

Our child fares are available to anyone up to the age of 18, so if you're 18, a child fare will be better value. Click here for more details.

West Sussex 16-20 Bus Saver

Anyone aged 16 to 20 and living in West Sussex can now purchase a 16-20 Bus Saver fare or ticket, which is the same price as the existing child rate. The scheme applies to any direct journey starting, wholly within, or finishing in West Sussex. Discounted tickets are available via our app, or from the driver using contactless payment cards or cash. Click here to view the West Sussex 16-20 Bus Save tickets available on our mobile app.

East Sussex Freedom Ticket

Under 19s living in East Sussex are able to get a card which allows the purchase of a Freedom ticket from the driver for £15 per week, which is accepted fir travel on most buses in East Sussex and on routes where journeys start or finish in East Sussex. 16-18 year olds need a 3i-D card to buy one and don't even need to be attending school or college.

How to get student tickets

Our mobile-ticket app can be downloaded free from both the Android Play Store or iPhone App Store. Once downloaded, simply buy your ticket with our app and scan the barcode when boarding. You will need to complete this verification before you can activate any student tickets. This process can take up to 24 hours so please allow plenty of time before you need to travel. Once you have been verified as a student or apprentice, you will not need to do it again until your verification has expired.

For more information about student verification on the app, please see our news article here.

The key smart-card can be registered at our Brighton Travel Shop where you show a valid student card. Once registered as a student, you can top up online at smartbuses.co.uk.

If you top up online your new ticket can take up to 5 hours from the purchase time to be available to use on the bus. This excludes Annual tickets as this requires a predetermined start date of at least 48 hours after the date of buying a product.

Apprentices

Apprentices can also get up to 36% student discount off many of our tickets. To get the discount, apprentices should take their enrolment or confirmation letter, or student ID card into one of our travel desks at 43 Conway Street, Hove, or out Brighton Travel Hub at 27 North Street. If you prefer using our mobile app, we’ll help you get verified whilst you wait. If you prefer using our key card, we’ll arrange to print one straight away for you.   

Apprenticeships should be registered with the UK Register of Learning Providers. Check this here by downloading the CSV file. 

Choose a greener future

By taking the bus, you're also doing your bit for the environment too. One bus can take up to 75 cars off the road and if everyone travelled more sustainably there'd be less congestion too. Check out how many carbon emissions you've saved by using our journey planner. It will also tell you how many steps you've walked, helping you reach that illusive 10,000 a day.

Terms and Conditions

To view our student terms and conditions please click here.

To enable us to continue offering the best value student fares, it is important that only passengers entitled to these tickets use them. If you are using a key card, please carry your Student ID (valid UK university, UK college or ISIC card) with you to show to a company employee if requested. If you are using mobile tickets, your photo will be displayed on the screen, so no further ID will be required.

Please note that UNIDAYS or NUS/TOTUM cards are not accepted as student ID.