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Stay safe by travelling with face coverings and hand sanitiser. 

Plan your journey in advance so that you know where to go and how to get there.

Once you arrive in the UK you will want to find the most comfortable route to get to your campus so that you can settle into your accommodation. Depending on when you arrive, and where you enter the country, you may be able to take advantage of the  Airport Collection Service  (selected days only) so have a look and see if this is an option for you. If you can't book onto the Airport Collection Service we have advice below to help you make your own way to campus.

Planning your travel Q&A

Watch a recording of our presentation to help you plan your travel in the UK.

Getting to Devon and Cornwall can be a long journey (3-5 hours to Exeter, 5-8 hours to Penryn), so it's wise to plan ahead. Plan and book each stage of your journey to our campuses before travelling. Tickets on the day in the UK can be much more expensive than buying in advance. Booking ahead also guarantees availability. Buy food and drink before you travel, larger airports and stations have good food choices, but there may not be any food outlets open onboard or when you arrive. Please be aware there may be restrictions on whether you can eat or not on public transport. Carry a refillable water bottle, UK tap water is safe to drink.

Travel Light

Only carry the necessities for your journey and first few days on arrival. Limit luggage to what you can carry and move around by yourself. You can send luggage direct to campus, to arrive after you move in (note the University will not accept advance freight of your luggage and cannot store shipped luggage for you in advance of your arrival). You can also order starter packs, such as bedding and kitchen equipment, and they’ll be sent to your residence in time for your arrival. 

Keep in Touch

Carry a UK enabled mobile phone and UK power adapter (many airports, stations, trains and coaches offer free charging points) or spare battery pack. Have the full UK address (including post code) for your accommodation. Have the university emergency contact numbers.

Planning your route

There are some details about getting to our campuses on the  Visit Us  pages, where you can also find our campus maps. Find some detailed instructions about getting to our Devon and Cornwall campuses by clicking on the relevent tab below:

Getting to Exeter

Getting to Cornwall

To help you plan your travel to University, we have put together some guidance about how to get from some of the main airports to the University of Exeter's Streatham campus.

How to Get from Gatwick Airport to Exeter ‌

How to get from Heathrow Airport to Exeter ‌

How to Get from Stansted Airport to Exeter ‌

How to Get from Bristol Airport to Exeter ‌

How to Get from Dublin Airport to Exeter ‌

‌‌

Taxi options 

Apple Taxis are a trusted Exeter company with a clear Covid-19 safety policy. Students should e-mail Apple Taxis in advance to arrange for a car to meet them at the airport using  [email protected] . Please state you are an Exeter student when booking to discuss booking rates. You will need to provide your time of arrival, airport terminal number, flight number and number of people travelling per booking. You will need to pre-pay in advance and a car will meet you at your arrival airport. Please note you will also need to make a provisional booking to cover any additional airport parking charges, which can be refunded if your plane lands on time.

To help you plan your travel to University, we have put together some guidance about how to get from some of the main airports to Truro, Penryn and Falmouth in Cornwall.

How to Get from Bristol Airport to Cornwall ‌

How to get from Heathrow Airport to Cornwall ‌

Below is a flow chart that gives an overview of how to get to Cornwall from the different airports you might arrive in the UK from. 

Taxi options

Abacus Taxis take bookings from major Cornish travel hubs like Newquay Airport and Truro Train Station. Students can email Abacus Taxis in advance to arrange for a car to meet them at the airport using [email protected] , noting that you are a University of Exeter student. You will need to provide your time of arrival, flight number, and number of people travelling per booking. You will need to pre-pay in advance and a car will meet you at your arrival destination.

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Posted on 16 November 2022

Take a look at our inter-campus travel guide to help you navigate your way across campus

We’re always looking for ways to encourage active sustainable travel across the campus, from nearby communities, and to and from the city.

To help you beat the bus queues and navigate your way across campus by bike and foot we’ve produced an inter-campus travel guide.

Why not take a look?

• Walking or cycling could save you time in the long run
• You’ll avoid queuing for the bus
• You’ll be leaving spaces available for those who most need to use the campus buses
• Keeping physically active is great for your physical and mental wellbeing
• You’ll be reducing your carbon footprint

Check out the Inter-campus travel guide

Looking for a bike? E-scooters and e-bikes E-scooters and e-bikes are located on campus and are available to hire to shuttle between Campus East and West or the city centre for just 18p per minute (£1 to unlock). The cycle pool scheme Our Travel and Transport Team have a limited selection of bikes to hire for FREE that come on a first come first serve basis. Students wanting to hire a bike are encouraged to email [email protected]  for further information. Buy a recycled bike The Bike Doctor sells recycled bikes at discounted prices. Richard can be found on campus for workshops and drop-in sessions throughout the academic year. Contact  [email protected]  to find out more. ReCyCle  on Walmgate have a large range of budget-friendly bikes ranging from £50-£100. They also have 3 student discount bundles available on cycle accessories year-round. Sustainable travel

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UK Study Tours

A great value and immensely educational study trip may be right on your doorstep, with a student trip to a city in the UK. It can be quite easy to overlook the beauty of the UK, but with its history and culture-soaked cities, not to mention the rolling hills in the countryside, there’s a wealth of options to suit any UK study tour!

London is our number one destination for UK Student Tours for university and college students, thanks to its incredible landmarks, innovative skyscrapers, alongside a smattering of galleries and museums, global businesses and financial institutions. It’s the perfect destination for any study trip, from business & economics to art & design, and everything else in between!

The beautiful market town of Stratford upon Avon, is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare, and as such is a popular choice for your English, Drama and Performing Arts students.

The Midlands is an area known for its engineering excellence and expertise. It’s at the centre of UK manufacturing today, and with many factories offering educational tours and workshops, it’s the ideal place for your college or university students to learn more about business, economics and engineering.

In the North West of England, and you’ll find the newly transformed city of Liverpool. This city has undergone a huge regeneration project and its new economic growth offers fantastic learning potential for students of business & economics or sport & leisure.

Over the border in Scotland, you’ve got the historic city of Edinburgh with its museums, art galleries and historic buildings. The Old and New Towns are classified as a UNESCO world heritage site making it a unique place that will appeal to students of all disciplines.

All our UK destinations can be adapted to suit a day trip itinerary, with prices starting from only £49pp.

Our range of college trips in the UK... 

Our college and sixth form UK student tours cover a fantastic range of subjects, making them the perfect accompaniment to any A-Level or Further Education curriculum. Check out our selection of UK study trips below, or get in touch with our team to discuss a more bespoke offering for your sixth form class.

Below are all of our college and university trips to London . For more information please get in touch.

Architecture

Discover London’s iconic skyline with its distinctive skyscrapers and contemporary architecture which is constantly evolving. Students of architecture will be able to explore many of the constructions which make London so unique, from the London Eye and the Shard building to the Houses of Parliament.

Art & Design

London is a destination brimming with culture, packed with awe inspiring architecture and some of the world's best art galleries. Students on an art & design college trip to London will be inspired as they visit some of the city’s most famous landmarks as well as London's array of art galleries.

Art & Design LIVE!

Inspire their future career at our Art & Design LIVE! event in London on Monday 18th February 2019. This full day event created for students of graphic communication consists of four sessions, chaired by an expert in the field of design.

Business Studies

London has a global reputation for being a cultural and financial mecca, making it a great destination for a business studies educational tour . Businesses, sporting venues and even theme parks offer visits and workshops from industry professionals on all aspects of the syllabus including marketing, operations management, people and finance.

Computer Science

A combination of workshops, tours and museums around the city prove London to be a great destination for students of computer science .

London has a global reputation for being a cultural mecca. London city offers students on a cultural trip to London the opportunity to experience some of the world's best museums and galleries including The National Portrait Museum, The Serpentine Gallery and the Tate Modern.

The City of London is a world leader in business and financial services where companies and investors from around the world meet and do business. An educational tour for economics students will inspire them to work in the city and they can visit some of London’s oldest financial institutions along with some of the new kids on the block.

Engineering

During their study tour, your engineering students will be able to explore many of the constructions which make London so unique, from the London Eye and the Shard building, to the theme parks and manufacturing industries that surround the capital.

English, Drama & Performing Arts

London offers students on an Engligh, drama & performing arts study tour the opportunity to see a West End show, after taking part in a theatre workshop or Q&A session with the cast of a popular show.

Fashion & Textiles

London has one of the most sophisticated and innovative fashion scenes boasting everything from flagship stores on Oxford Street to vintage fabrics at London's markets. During a fashion & textiles study tour , your students have the opportunity to draw inspiration from some of the world's best museums and galleries.

Geography, Geology & Environmental Science

The 2012 Olympic games changed the landscape of London, making it a great place for students of geography, geology & environmental science to study the impact of hosting such an event and urban regeneration.

London offers students on a history study tour the opportunity to experience some of the world's best museums and monuments that tell the story of London’s past.

Media & Film Studies

London is a fantastic destination for media & film student trips; as it’s home to the BBFC, students can learn about the film industry’s classification process and discover the amazing cinematic experience at BFI IMAX.

Photography

London’s iconic skyline is so distinctive, with many of its tourist attractions including the London Eye, the Shard building and of course the Houses of Parliament, all providing great inspiration for your photography students .

Politics & Law

Being the capital city of England makes London the perfect destination for a College trip. The city has been at the forefront of English society for over 2000 years and is brimming with attractions and landmarks perfect for politics or law students .

Psychology & Sociology

London is a great value and easily accessible destination for your psychology & sociology students with a variety of workshops at some of the Capital's best attractions which explore key themes on the curriculum.

Religious Studies

A visit to the capital offers your religious studies students a unique opportunity to discover more about religious practices, places of worship and gain a greater insight into the history and teachings of the different religions.

Sport & Leisure

During a sports and leisure study trip to London you can visit the capital’s famous sporting venues including football stadiums for Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as Cricket grounds such as Lords in Swiss Cottage, the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and Twickenham Rugby Stadium.

Travel & Tourism

As London is a main tourist destination this is a great tour for any student of leisure and tourism . The London Eye, Buckingham Palace Tour, Tower of London, Madame Tussauds are just some of the places to visit.

Urban Planning

During their uk study tour, your urban planning students will be able to explore many of the constructions which make London so unique, from the London Eye and the Shard building to the Houses of Parliament.

The Midlands

Our range of university trips in the UK

We’re a one-stop shop for your university group travel package in the UK. 

Whether you’re looking for a travel package, or a comprehensive subject-linked itinerary, we’ll work with you to pull together exactly what you need.  

We've created group travel packages in the UK across a broad spectrum of subjects including: agriculture, architecture, art,  business management, cartoon & comic arts , fashion & textiles, history, geography, health & social care, photography, theology & religious studies and sport & leisure.

Preferential group travel rates for transport in the UK,  plus increased flexibility & convenience:

Rail is a convenient travel option for small groups, ideal for travel to and from cities in the UK. We offer preferential rail rates for student groups and provide ticket flexibility. 

As a market leading travel group in the UK, we offer preferential group rates and nationwide access to an exceptional fleet of coaches.

Centrally-located, student-friendly accommodation at preferential group rates

Our room rates are guaranteed, so you can reserve your beds whilst you confirm your passenger numbers.  

Pre-booked visits & attractions - planned around your own group activities 

Through our partners based in the UK we’ll pre-book tickets at top visits and attractions at preferential group rates, we’ll plan these visits to fit around your own schedule.  UK trip highlights include the Coca Cola London Eye, West End Shows, Natural History Museum, V&A Museum, Edinburgh Castle, Science Centre, Cadbury World, plus a wide selection ofwalking tours, museums and art galleries in each destination.

Services available from StudyLink in the UK:

• Pre-booked meals at a range of restaurants 

• Pre-booked & pre-paid underground tickets

• Services of a dedicated Account Executive

Why choose StudyLink...

• Support from one of our award-winning group travel Account Executives with excellent knowledge of UK destinations
• A one-stop shop for your student group travel package for cities in the UK
• Multiple quote options to help you make the best value choice for your group 
• Preferential rates with hotels & hostels, rail & other transport options 
• Convenient and time-saving online travel technologies
• Risk management services for complete peace of mind
• External accreditations providing reassurance, including ABTA, ATOL & IATA licences

Price promise - we’ll beat any like-for-like quote 

We’ll also beat any like-for-like quote to ensure you’re getting the most competitive price for your travel requirements. 

What our customers are saying about us...

“I don't think either Sophie or Annabelle could do any more to support me. They're both fantastic! StudyLink are a contracted supplier we must use for all student travel, but I'd always prefer to use StudyLink anyway even if I didn't have to!” 

Ms SJ Newens, Subject Administrator at Nottingham Trent University

“The accommodation was very central, clean and the staff were very friendly and attentive. The service from the team at StudyLink is always first class.”

Mr Jim O'Donnell, External Funding Officer at New College Lanarkshire

Speak to one of our Group Travel Account Executives

A dedicated Account Executive will manage your tour organisation from start to finish. Our award-winning team each have years of experience in travel and will provide you a complete solution for your group travel requirements. They’ll use their knowledge of the UK and group travel expertise to create a custom-made itinerary just for you. Whether you’re looking for a travel package or a comprehensive curriculum-linked itinerary, your Account Executive will work with you to pull together exactly what you need.

Welcome to Warwick

Travelling to campus independently, please consider your luggage when planning onward travel - there is limited space on trains, and particularly on buses, for suitcases and bags..

We hope the below information is helpful for you, if you have any further questions, you can always get in touch with us via our contact form .

We're located in the heart of England, 3 miles (5 kilometres) from the centre of Coventry and on the border with Warwickshire. Note that the University is not in the town of Warwick (which is about 8 miles away), and it is not the same as Coventry University (which is a different university, located in the centre of Coventry). This is important when telling taxi drivers where you want to be.

View University of Warwick (Airports) Link opens in a new window Link opens in a new window in a larger map

See travel directions to the University of Warwick from Coventry and other directions locally.

Find us on Google Maps Link opens in a new window

Visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs website Link opens in a new window for general onward-travel advice for international students arriving in the UK Link opens in a new window .

Have a read through this blog by Milagros Garcia Marroquin | Global Sustainable Development and Business. You can check out this blog and many more on OurWarwick

Moving into university was chaotic for me – a Sunday night on my own in a new country, with no battery left in my phone to tell my family I arrived safely, and without an international plug adaptor. However, your arrival should not be like this at all! So here are my top tips to ensure your university arrival will be much better than mine.

✈️ The Arrival

For international flights, Birmingham Airport and London Heathrow are the most popular airports where students arrive to.

I chose Birmingham Airport as it is the closest one to the university. From there, you have 3 options: taxi, train or bus. I took a taxi due to my 1) big suitcases and 2) as I was unfamiliar with the public transport system. Even though is much more expensive than the other two options, I would advise taking a taxi if you are travelling on your own or with big suitcases. A taxi ride from the airport will cost £30, but an Uber would be slightly cheaper.

The bus is another option, however, you will need to change buses and it might be too much hassle with all the luggage. Also, the train is a cheaper alternative , but I wouldn’t recommend it if you are travelling alone as you will need to get to the train station first and sometimes trains are packed.

For the ones arriving at London airports, the university offers airport transfers from London Heathrow Airport. For further information about Airport Transfers 2023, check this website. Link opens in a new window

🧳 Checking in

After arriving at the university, you will need to pick up your key . The location for key collection depends on the day and time of your arrival. You can be dropped off at the designated key pick-up point to avoid walking around campus with all your luggage. In my case, arriving on a Sunday late at night (10 pm) meant picking up my keys from the University house.

The sign-up process is straightforward and fast . After identifying yourself, you will know your accommodation block and room. You can either walk or wait for a student ambassador to give you a ride. Preferably take a ride if your accommodation is in Lakeside, Sherbourne, Heronback or Westwood as these are further away from Central campus. Also, I highly recommend downloading the “My Warwick” app or asking for a physical map after checking in.

You will receive more information once you receive an email with your accommodation allocation. Upon confirming your arrival date, you will get detailed instructions on where to collect your room key based on your planned arrival time. Link opens in a new window

As I mentioned before, my arrival was really stressful due to not preparing well enough, so

What I would change about my arrival?

📅   Choose the day wisely: Arriving on a Friday morning is much more convenient than arriving late on a Sunday night. Keep in mind that all stores and businesses close early on Sundays, at 4 pm. So if you arrive after 4 pm without your essentials ( bedding, kitchenware, or food) you will struggle the first night. My advice is to avoid arriving on a Sunday.

✅   Come prepared: Bring essential items such as an international plug adapter and bedding at least! If you arrive during the day, you will have time to buy any necessities you may need, however, Cannon Park shopping centre is normally run out of kitchenware during welcome week. Buying a student pack will definitely make your arrival easier, do your own research and search for student deals.

🔋   Ensure your phone is charged: Make sure to have your phone fully charged or even better, carry a portable charger . After arriving, you’ll want to inform your family that you’re safe to put their worries at ease.

🏡   Connect with your flatmates : Once you’re settled in, take the time to explore your accommodation and get to know your flatmates. You are going to live with them for the rest of the academic year so building relationships with them will make your academic year more enjoyable.

👟 Explore the campus: Venture out of your accommodation and explore the campus. Walking around the campus is a wonderful experience, and it will help you familiarize yourself with your new environment.

📱   Join the WhatsApp group chats: There will most definitely be more than one WhatsApp group chat created by students. It’s a great way to meet potential friends before arriving at Warwick and support each other. I met my closest friend like that.

⭐   Complete all the tasks on your Student Records Portal Link opens in a new window : As soon as you arrive, register with the NHS to avoid any inconvenience. If you require a Biometrical Residence Permit   (BRP) , try to pick it up as soon as possible, so you don’t have to carry your passport as your primary ID.

But above all,

🍃 Take it slow: Remember that adjusting to university life takes time, it’s a process. Don’t rush yourself too much.

If you want further advice, feel free to drop me a message.

Until next time 🙂

Milagros Garcia Marroquin | Global Sustainable Development and Business

Advice on hiring taxis

There are two types of legal taxi in the UK - Hackney Carriages/Cabs, which you may recognise as the distinctive black London style cab, and minicabs/private hire vehicles. Never get into a unlicensed cab, or a private hire vehicle that you haven't booked.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs has more advice on their website Link opens in a new window .

The University uses the following local taxi firms:

• Allens Taxis Link opens in a new window
• A2B Street Cars Link opens in a new window
• Brookline Cars Link opens in a new window

The University also uses the following coach hire suppliers:

• Johnson's Coaches Link opens in a new window (who provide our Airport Transfer service for Welcome Week)
• Silverline Coaches Link opens in a new window

Regional Airport

The closest airport is Birmingham Airport . A taxi to us from the airport will take about 20 minutes and cost around £30. Alternatively, you can take a train to Coventry from Birmingham International station which is located at the airport. Train tickets can be purchased online in advance or at station on the day.

There is also a bus option from Birmingham International to Coventry, X1 . Tickets can be purchased with either correct cash amounts (no change given) or contactless card.

Onward travel from Coventry City Centre & Coventry Railway Station

These services all connect the University to Coventry City Centre and Coventry rail station:

• National Express 12X - this express service goes directly from the City Centre to campus, via Coventry Rail station.
• National Express 11 - these services come from Coventry City Centre and Coventry rail station to campus via Earlsdon

Taxis are also available at a cost of approximately £15 - £20, and a travel time of around 15 - 20 minutes, from both Pool Meadow Bus Station and Coventry Railway Station.

London Airports

London Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports are all connected to Coventry by National Express coach services. Alternatively, you can take the train to Coventry, with a change at London Euston.

• London Heathrow Link opens in a new window Link opens in a new window has many more flights, and is about 2 hours away from Coventry either by bus ( National Express Link opens in a new window Link opens in a new window ) or by rail (from Heathrow to London Paddington, then take tube from London Paddington to London Euston). The bus option is simpler and cheaper.
• London Luton Link opens in a new window Link opens in a new window also has various international flights, and is under 2 hours from Coventry by bus ( National Express Link opens in a new window Link opens in a new window ).
• London Gatwick Link opens in a new window Link opens in a new window is the second largest airport in the UK, offering a variety of international flights, and is 3hrs 30mins from Coventry by bus ( National Express Link opens in a new window Link opens in a new window ).
• London Stansted Link opens in a new window Link opens in a new window has various international flights, and is 3hrs 30mins from Coventry by bus

Coventry can also be reached by train from all the London airports listed above. For more information see the National Rail Link opens in a new window Link opens in a new window website.

What to do when you get to campus

This information will be detailed in your arrival instructions which you can download once you complete our online accommodation induction and inform us of your travel arrangements. Your arrival instructions will detail where you should go to collect your room key depending on when you plan to arrive to campus.

For more information on Arrivals, visit the Accommodation FAQs Link opens in a new window .

Travel information for international students

Here you’ll find essential information to help you plan your travel to the UK and onwards to our campus.

Planning your travel to the UK

Arriving in the uk, travelling to the university of stirling campus, travel insurance, travelling with relatives and friends, money for the first few days, useful travel and transport links.

Flying is the easiest way to get to Scotland. Edinburgh and Glasgow international airports are your go-to destinations, with a wide range of incoming flights each day from across the globe and from UK airports including regular flights from London airports. You will be able to arrange most of your travel through a travel agent in your home country or online. It is usually cheaper and more reliable to arrange as much of your journey in advance as you can.

Please read the  UK Border Force student guidance which has top tips to help students through passport control when arriving at the UK Border. You should also read the UK government's general guidance on entering the UK .

It is really important that you have paper copies (not an electronic copy on tablet or phone) of all your important documents in your hand luggage as you could be asked for them at the UK border. These could include:

• Visa or immigration status documents
• Information about the course you are studying
• Accommodation paperwork to show where you will be living
• Your university Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number, letter and information
• Recent bank statements

Arriving via Dublin? Important information

There is no routine passport control between Dublin and the UK. This means that you may not pass through passport control in the UK if you arrive from Dublin.  If you arrive from Dublin with a Student Visa you should keep your flight confirmation emails/papers about the Dublin-UK flight and carry them with you the next time you travel. You will have to leave the UK and re-enter within three months of arrival so that your Student Visa can be activated. This can obviously be costly so any savings made arriving in Dublin initially may be lost.

Label all luggage clearly with your full name and the full name and address of the University of Stirling. When you arrive at a UK airport and have cleared Immigration Control, you must collect your luggage and pass through customs.

See more information about what to pack for coming to Stirling .

At Edinburgh or Glasgow Airport regular buses or trams can take you to the city centres where you can then access frequent train services to Stirling. Find out more at:

• Edinburgh Airport transport links
• Glasgow Airport transport information

You can also  pre-book a taxi in advance with Stirling Taxis .

Edinburgh Airport is a 45 minute drive to the University campus while Glasgow Airport is approximately an hour drive.

See more information about travelling to Stirling in our  getting here section .

Many students take out travel insurance before coming to the UK. A good travel insurance policy may provide compensation in the event of missed fights, lost luggage or other things that don't go as planned on your trip.

If a friend or relative is travelling with you to help you settle in, please remember to arrange accommodation for them. It may be difficult to find accommodation at short notice, especially in the days before the start of semester as many parents, friends and relatives come to Stirling with new students.

Residential Services can provide information about short term accommodation including Bed and Breakfast near campus - contact  [email protected] . Bed and Breakfast accommodation usually means a room in a small guest house or hotel with breakfast provided. This can be cheaper than a major hotel.

We advise all students to open a bank account in the UK, but this will take at few days to arrange. You should make sure you have access to money to cover your needs for the first few days in the UK:

• If you plan to use a non-UK credit card or bank card to make payments or withdraw cash, check with the card provider that there will be no problems with this.
• If you plan to bring cash, consider bringing traveller's cheques instead. Cash is easily lost or stolen

Remember that there may be unexpected or emergency expenses (for example paying for accommodation in London if you miss a transfer flight) so you should budget to spend more than normal in the first few days. Anything you do not use can then be deposited into your UK account once it has been opened.

See more information about opening a UK bank account .

Getting to the Stirling campus Information on getting to the University from UK locations

Traveline Travel information for the UK including a journey planner

National Rail For train travel, including a searchable timetable

National Express For coach travel

freebus.scot Young people under 22 who live in Scotland more than 6 months per year are entitled to free nationwide bus travel.

Citylink For coach travel

Student accommodation The University's accommodation service

Visit Scotland Tourist information site, useful for booking temporary accommodation 

Visit London accommodation For accommodation options in London

Recommended pages

• Undergraduate open days
• Postgraduate open days
• Accommodation
• Information for teachers
• Maps and directions
• Sport and fitness

Getting to campus and finding your way around is an important part of starting at University. Our travel and campus information will help you navigate campus and feel at home here.

Arriving in the UK

We're here to help make your arrival as smooth as possible

Travelling in Birmingham

Check out our top tips on getting around campus and the city

Airport Arrivals

Flying into the UK for Welcome? Learn more about how we can support you

Find campus maps

Also in 'Welcome'

• Online Registration
• Student intranet
• Information for Parents & Guardians

Travelling to uni

Birmingham has excellent transport links making it easy for you to get to campus. Whether you’re getting here by bus, train, bike, car or hoofing it, we’ve got your back with routes and discounts.

First things first, know which campus you need to head to. You should be able to find this out when you complete your online enrolment, however you can also find the information when searching for your course on our website.

Once you know where you're going, this information will help you get to campus and to your lecture on time. Find the latest updates, ticketing sites and journey planners on our  Sustainable Travel site.

City Centre Campus

• Curzon Building
• Millennium Point
• Parkside Building
• Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
• Joseph Priestley Building
• University House

The nearest bus stops are on Jennens Road, but there are many stops within walking distance in the city centre.  Plan your journey here .

You can purchase bus tickets on the  online student travel portal .

The nearest train stations are:

Birmingham Moor Street (0.6 miles,  get directions ) Birmingham New Street (0.8 miles,  get directions ) Birmingham Snow Hill (0.8 miles,  get directions )

The nearest Metro stop is Bull Street (0.5 miles,  get directions ).

West Midlands Metro  runs between Wolverhampton, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham City Centre and Edgbaston . During the day, it runs every 6-8 minutes.  Find out more about trams here .

There are lots of options for cycling in Birmingham, including a new focus on cycle lanes making it easy to get around. If you don’t have your own bike, you can hire one through  WM Cycle Hire  – available across the region. You’ll find docking stations around the city.

Find more information about our cycle schemes and facilities  at BCU, plus we’ve put together  top tips for cycling safely .

Cycling in Birmingham

Nearest car park: Millennium Point ( B4 7AP )

Find out more about city centre car parking and season tickets  on iCity .

Be aware that City Centre Campus is within Birmingham's   Clean Air Zone  (CAZ), and high polluting vehicles are charged to enter.

Why not try  car sharing ? It’s a great way to meet new people, reduce the amount of driving you have to do and save money - according to LiftShare, you could save up to £80 a month.

Walking to uni

The University is easily walkable from the City Centre and Digbeth.  Google Maps  can help you get around and includes journey time. It’s quick, free and healthy!

City South Campus

• Seacole Building
• Bevan House
• Ravensbury House
• Harborne Road

The nearest bus stop is St George's Church. Catch the 10, 23, 24, 25.

Routes and bus numbers may change.  Check your route here .

The nearest train station is Five Ways (0.8 miles,  get directions ).

The nearest Metro stop is Edgbaston Village (0.5 miles,  get directions ).

West Midlands Metro  runs between Wolverhampton, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham City Centre and Edgbaston .  During the day, it runs every 6-8 minutes.  Find out more about trams here .

Find more information about our cycle schemes and facilities  at BCU, plus w e’ve put together  top tips for cycling safely .

Nearest car park: Broadway Plaza ( B16 8LP )

BCU students can enjoy a reduced fee of £3.50 for 12 hours when validating a parking ticket on campus .  See more on iCity .

Why not try  car sharing ? It’s a great way to meet new people, reduce the amount of driving you have to do and save money - according to LiftShare, you could save up to £80 a month.

City South Campus is easily walkable from surrounding areas.  Google Maps  can help you get around and includes journey time .  It’s quick, free and healthy!

Birmingham School of Art

• Margaret Street

The nearest bus stop is right outside on Margaret St. Catch the  9, 10, 12, 13, 23, 24, 25, 82, 87, 89,126 . 

Routes and bus numbers may change.  Check your route here .

Purchase bus tickets on the  online student travel portal .

Birmingham New Street (0.4 miles,  get directions ) Birmingham Snow Hill (0.4 miles,  get directions )

The nearest Metro stop is Town Hall (0.2 miles,  get directions ).

West Midlands Metro  runs between Wolverhampton, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham City Centre and Edgbaston .  During the day, it runs every 6-8 minutes.  Find out more about trams here .

Nearest car park: Snow Hill ( B3 2BJ )

Be aware that the School of Art is within Birmingham's   Clean Air Zone  (CAZ), and high polluting vehicles are charged to enter.

The School of Art is right in the city centre and easily walkable from surrounding areas.  Google Maps  can help you get around and includes journey time .  It’s quick, free and healthy!

School of Jewellery

• Vittoria Street
• St Paul's Square

Catch the 101 to Newhall St (for St Paul's Square) or Vittoria St/Regent Place, or the 8a/8c to Warstone Lane (The Clock).

The nearest train station is Jewellery Quarter (0.3 miles,  get directions ).

The nearest Metro stops are:

St Paul’s (0.2 miles,  get directions ) Jewellery Quarter (0.3 miles,  get directions )

West Midlands Metro  runs between Wolverhampton, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham City Centre and Edgbaston .  During the day, it runs every 6-8 minutes.  Find out more about trams here .

Nearest car park: NCP Birmingham Newhall Street ( B3 1SW )

Be aware that the School of Jewellery is within Birmingham's   Clean Air Zone  (CAZ), and high polluting vehicles are charged to enter.

The School of Jewellery is easily walkable from the city centre and surrounding areas.  Google Maps  can help you get around and includes journey time .  It’s quick, free and healthy!

School of Acting - Bournville

• Ruskin Hall

The nearest bus stop is College Walk. Catch the 61 or 63.

The nearest train station is  Bournville (0.7 miles,  get directions ).

There is street parking around Bournville. 

School of Acting - Digbeth

• 10 Bromley Street

The nearest bus stop is Adderley Street.  Catch the 3, 4, 5, 6 Platinum, 97, X1 Platinum or X2 Platinum.

Birmingham Moor Street (0.8 miles,  get directions ) Birmingham New Street (0.9 miles,  get directions )

There is street parking around Digbeth.

Nearest car parks:

JustPark Liverpool Street ( B9 4DS ) Trinity Street Car Park ( B9 4AL )

Be aware that Bromley Street is within Birmingham's   Clean Air Zone  (CAZ), and high polluting vehicles are charged to enter.

Bromley Street is easily walkable from the city centre and surrounding areas.  Google Maps  can help you get around and includes journey time .  It’s quick, free and healthy!

• Alexander Stadium

The nearest bus stops are Perry Avenue or Perry Park. Catch the 51, X51, 907 Platinum, 934 Platinum, 935 Platinum, 937 or 997 Platinum.

The nearest train station is Perry Barr (1 mile,  get directions )

• Doug Ellis Sports Centre

The nearest bus stops are on the A453 Aldridge Road.

Catch the 33, 907/907A, 934 Platinum, 935 Platinum, 936 Platinum, 937/937A, 997 Platinum.

The nearest train station is Perry Barr (0.5 miles,  get directions ).

National Cycle Route NCN 535 runs to the east of the sports centre. It’s a small cycle route from National Cycle Route 5 in Birmingham City Centre to Gravelly Hill and then a short stretch along the Tame Valley Canal.

Doug Ellis Sports Centre ( B42 2TP )

Car parking is available on-site and there are 4 accessible spaces. Car parking up to 3 hours is free of charge.

Tips for travelling to BCU for an open day

Travelling to BCU from another city for an Open or other event? We've pulled together some tips for the cheapest ways to get to Birmingham from other cities. 

Travelling to Birmingham by coach

One of the cheapest ways to travel to Birmingham from other cities is by coach. If you’re coming for an Open Day, this could be a great way to do it on a budget. You can get a whopping 30% off your ticket price when you travel to a BCU Open Day on a National Express coach .

Megabus offer brilliant deals on travel between UK cities. You can get a Megabus coach ticket from London to Birmingham for around £5. You can also get 10% off tickets with a TOTUM card .   

Travelling to Birmingham by train

Lots of discounts are available with a Railcard, including a  16-17 Saver which gets you 50% discount on most tickets. These cost £30 for a year, but if you’re planning on travelling to a lot of Open Days by train, the investment will definitely be worth it.  

Train tickets are normally cheaper the earlier you get them, so plan your visit at least a month in advance and book ahead. You can often save money on train tickets by using split ticketing (if you buy through Trainline this is called Split Save ). You’ll take the same journey, but it might be cheaper to have multiple tickets, for example a ticket from London to Nuneaton then Nuneaton to Birmingham. You can turn this option on in the Trainline app or use a website like Split Ticketing .

Car sharing

If you know other people who are planning to visit the same open day as yo u, why not share a car and split the cost of the petrol ?   

Inter-Campus Travel 

Travelling between the City Centre and City South Campuses is a lot easier than you may think. Taking the bus or cycling can actually be quicker than driving, due to congestion, roadworks and finding time to park. See the options on our Inter-Campus Travel page .

Discounts and benefits

Student bus and metro passes.

See the options for four week, monthly or one term bus and metro passes on the NX bus website . Alternatively,  download the mTicket app  to get a four-week student bus pass.

BCU students can access the online student travel portal , where you can easily plan your journey and book tickets at student rates.

You can get 1/3 off rail fares to travel across Britain with the  16-25 railcard  or  26-30 railcard , both costing just £30 for a year.

West Midlands Railway Termly Student Season Tickets

Students can get up to 50% off travel to school, college or university when buying a termly season ticket. This is great if you're travelling by train most days on a regular route. Check the  West Midlands Railway website for the latest details. 

Sustainable travel

As a university we are committed to encouraging the use of  sustainable transport , which can make a huge difference to the environment, boost your health, and save you money.

Our  interactive map provides environmental interest points across our campuses, including cycle parking locations, shower and locker locations, water fountains, bus stops, electric vehicle charging points and more.

Clean Air Zone

Birmingham City Centre is now a  Clean Air Zone (CAZ), and high polluting vehicles are charged to enter. This affect those driving to City Centre Campus, the School of Art and School of Jewellery. Further information is available on the dedicated Birmingham City University CAZ page .

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• Before you get here

Travelling to the UK

Orientation.

• Living in the UK

The university has campuses on the south coast of the UK in Brighton.

Check where your course is based, so you know which campus you need to travel to once you arrive in the UK. Details of where your course is based can be found on can be found on the webpage for your course .

Latest government advice on travelling into the UK

Before you travel

You may need to apply for an Airport Transit Schengen Visa if you have a flight connection in a Schengen member state on your way to the UK. This is in addition to your UK visa, and if you require this type of visa you will be unable to board your flight without it.

Further information about which nationalities this applies to, as well as how to apply for the Airport Transit Schengen Visa, can be  found on the Schengen Visa information website .

Please note that the individual Schengen countries have added extra countries to the list of those who need an Airport Transit Visa when travelling through their airports, so it's important to check both the general list and the extra list of the country you will be travelling through.

Before you begin your journey to the UK  read through the  UKCISA guide to arriving in the UK ; it has useful information on immigration, UK public transport, what money to bring with you and how you can call home once you arrive.

If you are travelling to the UK with children under the age of 18 please make sure you bring their birth certificates with you if they do not share the same surname as you or your partner/ spouse. This is because the staff at immigration control will ask to see these as proof of your relationship to each other.

If you take regular medication you will need a letter from the doctor who prescribed your medication to bring with you and keep in your hand luggage when you travel. You will not be permitted to bring more than a three-month supply of medication into the UK unless in exceptional circumstances. Read the UK Government guideline on bringing  medication into the UK  for more details.

It is important that you  register with a GP  as soon as possible after arriving in the UK to discuss your current medication.

When you arrive in the UK

If you have applied for a Student visa your permission to enter the UK will be shown in one of two ways.

If you are a non-EEA national, UKVI will place a 90-day entry-permit vignette in your passport that you use to enter the UK. You will also be issued with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), that you should collect from the nominated Post Office within 10 days of your arrival. Please keep the letter you receive when the visa is granted safe as you will need it to collect your BRP.

If you are an EEA or Swiss national, UKVI will issue you with 'secure digital status' to confirm you have immigration permission as a student; you will not be issued a vignette in your passport or issued a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). You can enter the UK via the e-gates which will scan the biometric chip in your passport and detect your permission to enter the UK.

If you need a Student visa to study in the UK, you will also need this when you arrive. You can find out more and get in touch with our visa team for advice on our visas and immigration page . Make sure you read the UK government guidance on this in advance and be prepared.

Collecting your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

If you applied for a Student Route visa from outside of the UK and are required to collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) on arrival, you are usually required to collect this within 10 days of arrival to the UK. If you are not able to collect your BRP within 10 days due to mandatory quarantine, this is not a problem.

If you are under 18 years of age you will need to nominate someone over the age of 18 to collect the BRP for you. If you do not have someone in the UK you can nominate, contact us on [email protected] and a member of the International Advice and Support Team can accompany you to collect the BRP.

Find out more about living in the UK

Getting to the University of Brighton

IThe University of Brighton is based in two cities - make sure you have checked whether your course is based in Brighton before you leave your home country so that you know which you need to travel to once you arrive in the UK.

If you're not sure, you can check with your academic school.

Three of our campuses are in the city of Brighton:

• Falmer campus
• City campus
• Moulsecoomb campus

Here is a map of our Brighton campuses .

From Heathrow

If you are not arranging a taxi pick up the next easiest option is to get the National Express coach from the Heathrow Central bus station (between terminals 1, 2 and 3) to Pool Valley – this is the central bus station in Brighton. From there you can either walk to the taxi rank in East Street or take a bus from stops E and F outside the Royal Pavilion. All these locations are sign posted on the map. You can use the Brighton and Hove Buses journey planner to check which bus to get and which stop to get off at.

From Gatwick

If you are not arranging a taxi pick up the next easiest option is to get the train from Gatwick to Brighton Station. At Brighton station you can either get a taxi from the rank behind the station, or get an onward train. If you have a lot of luggage with you we recommend a taxi as the stations connecting the University of Brighton Moulsecoomb and Falmer campuses are a ten minute walk from Mithras Halls (Moulsecoomb) and Paddock Field and Great Wilkins (Falmer).

Our Google map has details of how to travel from Brighton Station or Pool Valley Coach Station to the University of Brighton managed halls in Brighton.

Taxi airport pick up services

There are a number of taxi companies offering airport pick up services. We have included the details of some local companies, but you may wish to do your own research. We recommend you choose a service where the drivers have had an ‘enhanced DBS check’ which means the company has checked for any previous criminal convictions.

• · Brighton & Hove Streamline Taxis
• · City Cabs Brighton
• · 581 Taxis

 We have an arrangement with 581 Taxis where you can receive a discount on a taxi transfer from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead, or Luton airports by quoting the code Brighton581 when you make a booking.

You can book by calling +441273300300 or emailing [email protected]

When you book you will need to provide:

• date of arrival
• landing time
• flight number
• address in Brighton & Hove
• contact phone number
• how much luggage you will have with you. It is important that you know this before you book as it will determine the size of car the taxi company send to meet you.

For students travelling to Brighton the price is:

• from London Heathrow £116
• from London Gatwick £70
• from London Stanstead £203.00
• from Luton airport £195.00

These prices include car parking and a waiting time of one hour. After the first hour, the waiting time costs £20 an hour plus any extra car park charges.

If you are travelling with friends and want to share a taxi you can request this and discuss a price with 581 directly.

You will deal directly with 581 and not with the University of Brighton, so please make sure they have your contact details. All 581 drivers are DBS checked every 6 months.

In all cases please check the final price of your booking with 581 before you agree it.

Arrival at your accommodation

If you have a place in University of Brighton halls of residence or managed accommodation, our accommodation team will have sent you information about what to do when you arrive at your accommodation.

If you have any questions about your accommodation please contact [email protected]  in advance so they can inform the halls staff.

See information about living here

Contacting home

Once you have arrived at your new home, you might like to call your friends and family to let them know you have arrived safely.

There is wifi throughout all University of Brighton halls of residence and campuses. Select eduroam from the list of networks on your device. The log in credentials are a bit different to your normal university log in.

You have to enter your university username and @ and the university domain:

• your university user name - the one you were given when you enrolled online, which usually consists of your initials and a number to make it unique, for example abc1
• the brighton.ac.uk domain - for example [email protected]
• Click continue/connect/trust/accept if asked.

Need help? Find out more about connecting to the university wifi (to access this info (log-in using your university email).

See our guide to mobile phone options in the UK.

Find out more about  living in the UK  before you get here.

Find out more about what the start of the academic year will look like at  Belong at Brighton .

Read more about our  orientation events  for new international students.

Travel advice for Edinburgh College students

Friday 27th August 2021

This webpage provides guidance for students on how to travel safely to Edinburgh College campuses. It sets out government guidelines on using public transport, and provides advice and information on walking, cycling, and driving. More detailed advice can be found on the Scottish Government website here . If you are experiencing any symptoms of Covid-19 you should not travel, and follow government advice on self-isolation.

• Planning Your Journey
• Walking & cycling

Public Transport

International travel, travel funding, in summary:.

• Edinburgh College is adopting a blended learning approach for 2021/22 following Scottish Government guidance. College staff will keep you up to date on when your timetable will be online or face-to-face. You should only come to campus if you are asked to by your lecturer.
• If you are travelling, then you should try to walk or cycle. This will reduce pressure on the public transport system and road networks, leaving space for people who really need to use them, like key workers.
• When using public transport, it is possible that travel may take longer than normal due to reduced capacity and physical distancing measures. You should plan ahead, identify alternative routes, and set off earlier in case of unexpected disruption. Avoid travelling at peak times where possible. The wearing of face coverings is mandatory on public transport unless you have an exemption.
• If you have to drive, you should plan ahead as increased traffic will likely lead to disruption and delays. Try to avoid travelling at peak times. College car park capacity is limited, and you must have a permit. A car parking permit doesn't guarantee a parking space on campus.
• Please be aware that when arriving on campus, each building will have one way systems and specific entrance and exit points to enable social distancing. For more information on health & safety procedures on campus, please see the FAQ page on the College's website.
• It is important that you read our Health and Safety Guidance for Students before entering any Edinburgh College Campus.

Planning your journey

Edinburgh College Students Association's Travel Hub has a useful tool to help you plan your journey . It will give you a detailed breakdown of all the travel options available from your home postcode to your campus, based on the date and time you need to arrive by. You’ll then be sent an email with the best travel options for you.

Walking & Cycling

Where possible, we would recommend walking or cycling to campus. Public transport is likely to experience increased disruption and delays due to the need for social distancing. Furthermore, college car parking spaces are limited, and there is no guarantee you will find a space. If you live close enough, walking and cycling will likely be the easiest and most reliable way to get to college. Plus, it’s cheap and healthy! ECSA offers free walking and cycling safety equipment such as lights and hig-vis items so you are safe while walking and cycling - get in touch on [email protected] if you're interested.

There are several signposted “quiet routes” for pedestrians and cyclists throughout Edinburgh. These keep you away from busy main roads and pavements. The City Council website has an interactive map which shows these routes, as well as cycle parking locations. To add to this network, the City Council are also introducing temporary road closures, cycle lanes, and wider pavements to make it easier to walk and cycle whilst following physical distancing. You can see information about all these closures here .

You can also use Cyclestreets . This is a useful journey planner for active travel, as there are options to see quieter routes, set your expected speed, and see a profile of the routes you can take (e.g. how hilly it is; how many traffic lights you’ll need to stop at). Don’t let the name fool you, you could use this for mapping out a quiet walking route too, the only difference would be the time it would take.

On-campus facilities

There are a range of facilities at Edinburgh College to help you cycle. If you’re using your own bike to get to campus, you can request access to our secure cycle storage areas by speaking to a member of the Security team at reception - you will just need to show your student card – or by contacting them on [email protected] if you aren’t required on campus as frequently. There are also showers and changing areas on all campuses, which you can also enquire about with reception. These will be cleaned regularly as part of improved campus cleaning processes put in place across the college.

Regular bike maintenance  events , where you can get your bike fixed on campus for free, will be scheduled soon - keep an eye out for more details on our Go Green Travel Hub .

Puncture repair kits and bike pumps are kept at reception desks for staff and students to use should you have to come onto campus. Some bike storage areas also have a pump.

Getting a bike

If you have a bike already, but it's needing some TLC or some new parts, the Wee Spoke Hub have cheap second hand parts.

There are several second-hand bike shops in the city where you can buy a cheap bike. Here are some suggestions:

• The Bike Station , 250 Causewayside, EH9 1UU
• Pedal Forth , 17 East Cromwell Street, EH6 6HD
• Soul Cycles , 1 Brougham Place, EH3 9HW
• Eastside Bikes , 1 Cadzow Place, EH7 5SN
• Velow Bikeworks , 19 Windsor Place, EH15 2AJ

There are also a few schemes that provide free bikes:

• Brake The Cycle - free refurbished bikes for people in need.
• Bikes For Refugees

Due to current physical distancing advice, there will be significantly reduced capacity on public transport. It is therefore important to note that delays might be expected, and full buses will not stop for further passengers.

Face coverings are currently a legal requirement when travelling on public transport (unless you have an exemption), so plan for this. However, as you will be able to see from the links below, all public transport providers have put significant measures in place to reduce the risk of using their services. These should therefore still be considered as a reasonable transport option, to help avoid increased congestion from more people driving.

To access up to date travel times and routes for Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams you can download the Transport for Edinburgh app on Apple or Android.

The Lothian Buses website and First Buses website both have a wide range of information about safety on bard, timetables, journey planning, and ticket pricing. Guidance surrounding safe travel on both services differs slightly, so check out Lothian Buses and First Buses information depending on which buses you’ll be using.

A Lothian Buses Ridacard can be good value if you use the buses and trams a lot - but do remember that you are likely to be travelling less than usual, so it might be cheaper to just buy tickets for the day you travel, rather than a season ticket.

Now that restrictions are starting to be relaxed, there are also likely going to be roadworks and diversions due to any necessary roadworks. We’d therefore suggest you check the Council website to see if there will be any delays on your route.

Train timetables are currently subject to change, so Scotrail recommends checking your service is running 24 hours before you travel. You can do this on their website , where you can also book tickets and find guidance on how to travel safely on board.

There are train stations near almost all of our campuses:

• Brunstane station is approximately a 5 minute walk from Milton Road campus
• Eskbank station is approximately a 5 minute walk from Midlothian campus
• Edinburgh Park station is approximately a 15 minute walk from Sighthill campus
• No train stations are within easy walking distance of Granton campus, however there are multiple Lothian bus routes (24, X37, 47, 113) that arrive at the campus from both Haymarket and Waverley stations.

If you are travelling to Sighthill campus, there is also the option of taking the tram (the Bankhead stop is a few minutes walk away). Lothian Bus Ridacards can be used on the trams, as long as you activate your card on the platform before you board. You can also buy individual tickets (£1.80 for a single or £3.40 for a return) on the platform before you travel. More information about the trams is available on the Edinburgh Trams website , along with their Covid-19 guidance.

Even if you are travelling to a different campus, the tram line might still be a useful link in your journey. They run from the west of the city to the city centre (as shown in the line map below), where you can then get bus links to all other campuses whilst still using the same day-pass:

Liftsharing

If you have to come onto a campus and use a car, lift sharing might be the better option, as you can share the costs with other passengers. If you are interested in lift sharing, you should only travel with members of your own, or extended, household. We recognise that there may be occasions when there is no alternative to travel with people out with your household. On such occasions, you should:

• share the transport with the same people each time (for example with other students in your class)
• keep to small groups of people at any one time
• maintain good ventilation by keeping the car windows open if possible
• ask everyone to wear face-coverings
• clean your hands before and after your journey
• if the vehicle is your responsibility, clean the door handles and other areas that people touch.

If this seems like the most feasible travel option for you, we have a dedicated Liftshare site for Edinburgh College studnets - this means that you can choose to keep your journeys shareable only with other students at the College. To sign up to this, go to our Liftshare site.

Parking at Edinburgh College

To be able to park in the college car park, you must have a student parking permit. New students can request a permit by emailing [email protected] or speaking to the reception team on campus (only do this if you are already on campus for classes - do not travel in just to get a parking permit). Permits must be displayed clearly in your car so they can be viewed by parking enforcement officers. Although anyone can get a permit for free, this does not guarantee you a space in the car park, as spaces are first-come-first-served.

There are ongoing restrictions on international travel in and out of Scotland. To keep up to date with this guidance, visit the Scottish Government website to see if you will need to isolate upon arrival into Scotland after any foreign travel.

To check if you are eligible for travel funding, you can use the college’s funding tool . If you are on a full time Further Education course, please make sure you complete your EMA/bursary application form. For other courses, or if you’re not sure, you can contact the student funding team on [email protected] .

Currently, all Further Education bursary and Education Maintenance Allowance applicants are being assessed for campus travel as normal. If the college makes the decision to deliver your course 100% online for any period of your course, you would not receive travel payments for the period you’re not required to attend campus (or placement). If you only have to attend campus for part of a week, your travel award would still be paid in full.

Students on part-time or ESOL courses who would normally apply for help with their travel from the discretionary funds should do so as normal when courses start, and will be assessed according to their individual need.

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Getting to and around campus

Transport connections in the county are good, with Colchester and Southend no more than an hour from central London, and the Loughton Campus only a few minutes walk from the nearest Underground station.

Getting here

• Travelling to Colchester Campus
• Travelling to East 15 at Loughton Campus
• Travelling to Southend Campus
• Accessible travel to campus

Finding your way

Find out how to get to locate a particular room, department or a place to study.

• Find Your Way interactive Colchester Campus map
• Find Your Way interactive Southend Campus map
• Interactive virtual tour of Southend Campus
• Southend Campus map  (.pdf)
• Loughton Campus map  (.pdf)
• Campus access information

If you need any further help and advice, please contact or visit the Student Services Hub who will be happy to assist you.

• For enquiries contact your Student Services Hub
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About the University of Leicester

• Citizens of Change: Our second century
• Campus development
• Our history
• How we're making a difference
• Information
• Mandatory training
• Support for conflicts and world events
• Opening times

Getting to the University

If you're arriving by train, we're about a 20-minute walk from the train station located on London Road. Enter LE1 7RH into Google Maps to help find your way if you choose to walk from the station. Alternatively, there is a taxi rank located just outside the main station entrance or you can jump on the Arriva 48 bus.

If you’re coming by coach you will arrive into Leicester St Margaret's Bus Station. Our campus is roughly a 35-minute walk away. Enter LE1 7RH into Google Maps to help find your way if you choose to walk from the bus station. The Arriva 48 bus runs frequently from the Haymarket Bus Station in the city centre to University Road. (Return journey is the 47 bus.) 

We have a multi-storey pay-as-you-go  car park just next to campus. The postcode is LE2 7TG. NB. Maximum height is 2.1m!

The postcode for the The Village accommodation is LE2 2LH. There is free parking available at the Village.

Brookfield campus is on Holmfield Road, LE2 1SD, where you can park for free.

There are also a number of pay and display car parks near main campus.

If you need an accessible space on campus, please  email our Parking Office  two working days before you come to campus.

Our nearest airport is East Midlands Airport (approximately 20 miles from campus). We can also be reached easily from Birmingham Airport, Stansted Airport, Luton Airport and Heathrow.

Getting about in Leicester

Packed with information and advice on walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing – the  Choose How You Move website  is a one stop shop for travel in Leicester and Leicestershire.

Our Students’ Union has an agreement with a local taxi firm for a  10% student discount  and a fixed rate service between campus and popular destinations.

You can make use of regular buses that cover the city centre and county. There's also a dedicated bus service running between The Village and campus - you can buy a termly pass from The Village reception.

Medical students can travel for free on the  Hospital Hopper shuttle service  which connects Leicester's three hospitals. Please note, if you do not have a University Hospitals Leicester NHS ID badge, standard fares will apply .

Cycling is a very popular, cheap and environmentally friendly way to travel about Leicester. Leicester is a cyclist friendly city with many dedicated cycle paths lanes on most of the roads between halls and main campus. We have a large underground bicycle store in the centre of campus for over 300 bikes and there are additional bicycle racks at most of our other locations.

Leicester City Council  provide a vast amount of information on cycling, free PDF maps and an excellent online interactive map to help you plan your journey.

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Travel around the UK

Find out how to explore the rest of the UK by using public transport.

Ways to get around the UK

The UK is relatively small compared with other countries – about the same size as the US state of Michigan and roughly the same population as France or Thailand. This means it’s easy to travel across the country and discover beautiful countryside, historic cities and varied coastlines.

The UK has an extensive public transport network and there are plenty of ways to get to your destination.

Buses and coaches

Buses and coaches can be a cost-effective way to get around.

National Express and Megabus are two companies that provide coach travel to major destinations across the UK.

National Express also provide services to Heathrow Airport direct from Brighton. Although services may be slower than the train, they are often cheaper.

As a Sussex student, you are also able to apply for a Young Persons Coach Card from National Express, providing a third off most fares.

There are lots of different train companies in the UK depending on which region you are in, and sometimes more than one train company operates the same route. Locally, for example, companies include Southern Railway and Thameslink.

Your ticket will be valid for any company that operates the route you are travelling, unless otherwise stated on your ticket – for instance, ‘Not Gatwick Express’.

You can often save money by booking tickets in advance of your travel or by buying off-peak tickets, which are only valid outside of the busy morning rush hour.

For more information on types of tickets see National Rail Enquiries .

The Cheapest Fare Finder is also a useful way of finding the cheapest way to travel from one destination to another.

It’s important to travel with the correct ticket and your railcard, otherwise you could get a fine.

If you’re not sure what ticket you need, speak to train staff who can make sure your ticket is valid.

16-25 Railcard

As a Sussex student, you are eligible for either a 16-25 or 25-30 railcard. You can apply online with your student card.

If you’re over 30, you will need additional documentation confirming your studies. Your can include a letter of student status and a copy of your student ID with your online application.

You can request a letter of student status from:

• your School Office , if you are an undergraduate
• the Student Systems and Records Office , if you’re a Masters student
• the Research Student Administration Office , if you are studying a PhD.

London Underground

If you’re travelling around London, the ‘Tube’ is quick and easy to use, with stations close to all major landmarks .

Use the Transport for London website to find out how much a journey will cost . There is a cap on how much you will be charged each day.

The easiest way of paying for a ticket is by tapping a contactless card or a mobile phone with Android or Google Pay on the yellow card reader in front of the barriers.

You can also buy an Oyster Card – a contactless card you top up with money before you travel – or get a ticket from a ticket office, although this may be more expensive.

Whenever you complete a Tube journey using contactless payment, make sure you touch out otherwise you’ll be charged the maximum fare.

If you’ve already got a ticket to another destination that requires travel through London, you don’t need a separate Tube ticket.

A Travelcard allows you unlimited use of Underground, bus and train services in London for either one day or seven days.

You can also buy a Travelcard from a station outside of London, such as Brighton or Falmer, which would also include your return ticket.

There may be restrictions on where you can go in London and at what time of day. Check with a member of staff before you travel to make sure you have the right ticket.

If you’re thinking of visiting Scotland, flying is often cheaper than getting the train. Both Glasgow and Edinburgh are major airports with direct flights from London Gatwick, with flights usually lasting one hour and 30 minutes.

You can use flight comparison websites to save money by booking early or booking at off-peak times.

Local travel

Find out about how to get around Brighton and Hove , and the wider Sussex area, using buses and trains.

Travelling around Europe

You don’t need a visa to visit Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland – which are all in the UK – but you might need one if you want to travel around Europe .

You can travel to France, Belgium and the Netherlands by train from London using a high-speed rail network called Eurostar.

This is a quick and easy way to travel to many popular destinations in Europe, however prices are generally more expensive than flying.

Travelling abroad

Find out what to do if you want to travel overseas during your studies .

See more from Life as an international student

Travelling to the University of Salford

No matter whether you're travelling to Salford by train, bus, bike, car, or plane, we have provided travel route information for you to explore before you set off on your journey.

The University of Salford is located across three campuses, Peel Park, Frederick Road and MediaCity. Although we have multiple campuses, our central location and fantastic transport links connecting us with Manchester city centre and beyond, means that travelling here couldn't be easier. 

University of Salford campuses

University of Salford, 43 Crescent, Salford, M5 4WT

Frederick Road

University of Salford, Frederick Road Campus, Broad Street, Salford, M6 6PU

University of Salford, MediaCity B4, Orange Tower, Salford Quays, M50 2HE

To stop you from getting lost, we've created this handy campus map for you to follow!

Peel Park and Frederick Road travel guide

The Peel Park and Frederick Road campuses are within walking distance of each other, and you can find out how to navigate your way to both campuses below. 

Getting here by train

Salford Crescent station  is located between the Peel Park and Frederick Road campuses.

Direct services run to and from Manchester Airport, Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria, as well as Blackpool, Bolton, Buxton, Blackburn, Southport, Preston, Lancaster, and Barrow-in-Furness.

Inter-city services normally use Manchester Piccadilly which is about a ten-minute train journey from Salford Crescent.

Watch out! Don’t mistake Salford Central for Salford Crescent, otherwise, you’ll end up with a 20-minute walk ahead of you.

Getting here by bus

You can get on any of the following buses, which will take you to The Crescent (right outside the university front entrance for Peel Park):

8, 35, 36, 37, 38, 50, 67, 100, V1, V2.

For Frederick Road (Allerton, Mary Seacole, Brian Blatchford buildings), any of the above buses except the 67 and 100 will take you closer to this end of the campus.

Getting here by bike

If you’re coming in by bike, there are over 400 spaces across our campuses where you can store this. The majority of these spaces are contained within secure shelters which can be accessed using your student or staff ID card. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have also developed a Cycle Hub at MediaCity which offers membership-based smart card access and can accommodate up to 300 bicycles. 

Getting here by car

If you're travelling to us by car, spaces in our car parks are limited, so please do plan ahead of your visit. For those who need access to electric vehicle charging points, we have a total of eight on campus and a public charging point outside Crescent House. 

From the North

• M6 : Leave the M6 at Junction 30 heading on to the M61, then follow directions from the M61 below.
• M6 : Leave at Junction 21a for M62 eastbound and follow directions for M62 below.
• M61 : Just after Junction 3, the inside lane becomes the slip road signposted A580 Manchester. Stay in this lane and join the A580 which then becomes the A6 signposted Salford/Manchester. Continue straight on. Ignore signs for Salford Shopping City and avoid the inside lane. After the underpass, look out for local signs to the university.

From the South

• M56 : After Junction 4 stay in the inside lane and come off following signs for M60, signposted Stretford, Bolton, Leeds. After passing over ship canal bridge, with Trafford Shopping Centre on your right, leave the M60 at Junction 12 and follow signs for M602 (see instructions for M602 below).
• M1 : Exit at Junction 42 and follow M62 westbound.

From the East

• M60 : Leave at Junction 17 signposted Prestwich and Whitefield. Turn left on to the A56 (Prestwich/Salford/Manchester). Follow the A56 into Manchester. Turn right off the A56 onto A576 (Great Cheetham Street West). Head straight on to the second roundabout, then turn left onto the A6. Avoid the inside lane.

From the West

• M62/M602 : At Junction 12, carry straight on following signs for M602. Follow M602 to Junction 3 signposted Salford/Trafford Park. Keep in the inside lane and turn left on to A5063 (Albion Way). Follow signposts for Salford/Pendleton. At the second lights, turn left on to the A6 for Frederick Road, or right for Peel Park.

Within Manchester

• From Manchester/Salford inner relief road : Leave at the exit for A6 Salford (Chapel Street). The University is half a mile away.
• From Manchester City Centre : Follow signs for Salford and then more locally signs for the University of Salford, which will direct you to the A6 (Chapel Street/Crescent).
• From A580 (East) : Turn left off of the A580 on to A5185 (Lancaster Road), and then right on to A576 (Eccles Old Road).
• From A580 (West) : Turn right off of the A580 on to A5185 (Lancaster Road) and then right on to A576 (Eccles Old Road).

Getting here by Air

Manchester Airport is an international hub, connecting hundreds of countries across the world to the city. The airport is 15 miles from the university, and there are regular, direct train services between the airport and Salford Crescent station, as well as Manchester Piccadilly.

The 43 and 103 buses link the airport and the city centre.

Travel Sustainably

At Salford, we encourage colleagues, students and visitors to travel as sustainably as possible. There are a number of ways in which you can reduce your environmental impact when travelling to any one of our university campuses, so we’ve put together some advice on sustainable travel methods to help you on your way.

Accessibility

We have worked with AccessAble, the leading provider of access information for all disabled people in the UK, since 2008 to provide trusted accessibility information about our campus. All of our buildings are equipped with a Deaf Alerter radio-based fire alarm warning and a public address messaging system.

Campus Travel

In this section.

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• Students' Union
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• Campus Cards
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With two campuses and Halls of Residences across the City of Sunderland, the University and Students' Union operate regular bus services that can get you to where you need to be.

The University is also connected by public transport links including the Tyne and Wear Metro as well as our City Campus being close proximity to Park Lane Interchange.

Our Campus Bus, the Connect service is operated by Go North East. Although members of the public can use the service to get around the City, students are able to hop on for free, simply show your campus card when you get on.

The Connect bus service operates between our two campuses, with stops along the way which are close to our Halls of Residences and key areas within the City, such as Park Lane Interchange & Stadium of Light.

Students' Union Minibus

Sunderland Students' Union operate a campus circular minibus service that picks up and drops off at key locations across campuses and Halls of Residences.

The Campus Circular operates, Monday - Friday 8am until 8pm circulating Halls of Residence and University buildings.

The Evening Circular operates 5 nights a week in the academic term from 8pm - 10.30pm between The Forge, St Peter's Campus, Scotia Quay and City Campus. 

Both campuses here in Sunderland are connected by the Tyne and Wear Metro service, an overground rail service that serves Sunderland, Gateshead and Newcastle areas. The Tyne and Wear Metro does cost so make sure to get a ticket before you board the trains.

The closest stops to our 2 campuses are:

City Campus - University Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peters - St Peters

FIND OUT MORE

Parking on Campus

If you are driving each day, you will be able to park on campus. We have parking both at City and our Sir Tom Cowie Campus.

Parking on campus isn't free however if you apply for a parking permit you will be able to park at a substantive reduced rate.

Can't find a spot at a Campus? Why not park on the opposite campus and use our Campus Bus as a 'Park and Ride'.

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Travelling to the University of Dundee

Updated on 5 April 2024

How to travel to the University of Dundee by car, train, bus, or plane.

The University of Dundee has three campuses: our City Campus in the centre of Dundee, Ninewells Campus to the west of the city, and in Kirkcaldy.

Car parking on the city campus is for permit holders only. Official visitors should contact the department they are visiting to arrange a temporary permit.

Free parking is available at Ninewells Hospital, although some car parks are limited stay. Car parking at Kirkcaldy campus is free of charge.

Satnav postcodes

• Tower Building: DD1 4HN
• Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design: DD1 4HT
• Dalhousie Building: DD1 5EN
• Ninewells Hospital: DD2 1UB
• Kirkcaldy Campus: KY2 5YS

Travelling from Edinburgh

Travel time: 90 minutes

• Directions to Tower Building
• Directions to Ninewells Hospital.
• Directions to Kirkcaldy

Travelling from Perth

Travel time: 30 minutes

• Directions to Ninewells Hospital

Travelling from Aberdeen

Travel time: 95 minutes

Travelling from Glasgow

Do you frequently travel to dundee by car.

Join our liftshare scheme for staff and students

Dundee is a small city and most parts are easily reached in 20-30 minutes by bicycle from the city centre. You can plan your route using the Sustrans route planner .

It takes approximately 15-20 minutes to ride from the city campus to Ninewells.

Cycle facilities

• Cyclists can use the showers at the University swimming pool (DUSA), in the Matthew Building, and at the sports centre (ISE) for free.
• Bicycle racks and lockers are available on the main campus.
• Bike shelters are at Ninewells, and a bike stand at Kirkcaldy.
• Staff can borrow bikes to use around city and campus from the University's bike pool
• Electric bicycles, tandems, and folding bikes are also available for hire at EBS Cycle Centre

If you require access to secure cycle parking facilities then please contact Trudy Cunningham

Dundee and Kirkcaldy stations are both on the main East Coast line with direct LNER and Cross Country services from:

• Southampton
• Bournemouth
• and Plymouth.

Overnight sleeper services by Caledonian Sleeper run from London, the south coast, and the west country.

ScotRail journeys from other major cities in Scotland ( Aberdeen , Edinburgh , Glasgow Queen Street ) take approximately 75 minutes.

Dundee Railway Station is in the city centre, a few minutes walk to City Campus. Ninewells Campus is 15 minutes by bus. Kirkcaldy Railway station is directly opposite Kirkcaldy Campus.

For times and tickets visit train operator websites or check National Rail Enquiries +44(0)3457 48 49 50.

Bus or coach

Dundee Bus Station is to the east of the city centre. It is a 15-20 minute walk to the City Campus. Most city bus routes travel to Ninewells Hospital.

Kirkcaldy is served by many Stagecoach East Scotland services. There are several bus stops within a few minutes walk of our campus.

• Megabus services from Glasgow to Dundee
• Megabus services from Edinburgh to Dundee
• Ember services from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Dundee

Bus stops near our Dundee campuses

Dundee's two major bus operators are Xplore Dundee and Stagecoach Strathtay . Stagecoach offers discounts for employees on seven day and four week bus tickets.

Their sites include details of routes, ticket prices, and offers including flexi-cards and season tickets.

Many buses come regularly (10 to 20 minutes) during daytime. Last buses leave the city centre about 23:15 on most routes.

Dundee Airport has daily flights to and from London Stansted. Flights from elsewhere in the UK, or international airports, will land at one of four Scottish airports, with Glasgow and Edinburgh being closest. View guides for public transport links from each airport to Dundee.

• Edinburgh International Airport
• Glasgow International Airport
• Aberdeen International Airport
• Prestwick International Airport

If you are arriving into Scotland from another country, normal travel rules currently apply. Please also check the Scottish Government Website prior to travel in case of any changes to travel advice.

You can search local travel info using Traveline .

There are taxi ranks at Ninewells Hospital, in the city centre.

Local taxi firms include Tele-Taxis +44 (0)1382 825 825 and 20 30 20 +44 (0)1382 20 30 20.

Night bus service

DUSA runs a free nightly bus service which will take you anywhere you ask within the city boundary.

Visit DUSA website for more information

expand your classroom with GLOBAL EDUCATION TRAVEL

Bring your students to the world with global educational travel, we work with educators to enable their students to experience curriculum at first hand - and prepare for university. contact us using the form below to discuss in more detail.

Set up a 30 minute discovery call

Please use this link to schedule an introductory call with one of our team. we will be pleased to talk to you about educational travel opportunities for your school and students, and to learn more about the objectives of your trip..

Use the button below to contact us, and one of the team will be in touch with you shortly to discuss your trip in more detail

continuous professional development

Teachers also benefit from student travel. Improve your knowledge of the curriculum you teach and international university, plus a range of other benefits exclusively for educators.

EXAMPLE Tours

2024 Summer UK Tour

Deep dive into United Kingdom universities and culture.

2024 Summer USA East Coast Tour

Experience Washington DC, NYC and Boston

global educational travel

Each of our tours are fully customised to suit your requirements and the requirements of the curriculum you teach.  Click on the pictures opposite to learn more about four subject specific tours we have recently run for international schools in the USA and Asia.

The subjects covered included World War II and the Cold War, Literature in England, a USA East Coast university campus tour and a residential skills-based workshop at the University of Cambridge. 

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Visit University is part of Encap Events Limited, a company registered in Scotland, UK.  Encap Events contracts with various entities, including universities in the UK, USA and elsewhere to hire teaching facilities, accommodation and other services. Encap Events Ltd is not owned or otherwise affiliated with those institutions or any other institutions or companies and we are independent of universities.  

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USC cancels its main commencement event, citing 'safety measures'

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All times stated are UK

We're pausing our live coverage

Thank you for joining us today.

We're pausing the live coverage of the ongoing campus protests in the US.

You can catch up on the day's full developments here .

What happened today?

Protests which began at Columbia University in New York City last week have spread to dozens of college campuses across the country, including Northwestern near Chicago, the University of Michigan, the University of California, Berkeley and others.

Here's a recap of the key developments:

• In Syracuse, New York, President Biden was greeted by around 100 protesters with signs reading "Genocide Joe" and other slogans as he attended an official event
• More than 200 arrests were made on Wednesday at Emerson College, Boston; University of Southern California in Los Angeles; and the University of Texas at Austin
• Atlanta police said a protest group at Emory University including both students and non-students was ordered to disperse but refused. Police said chemical sprays were used, but denied earlier suggestions that rubber bullets were fired
• USC cancelled its main commencement ceremony scheduled for 10 May, citing "new security measures in place this year"
• Columbia officials said they expect more protests and counter-protests this evening and have asked people to avoid the area

Gaza protesters clash with police at Emory University

Video content, briefing now over.

Columbia officials held a very short briefing, saying that they expect more protests tonight.

They also said they are still "considering options" for the on-campus encampment while they continue talks with student protestors.

More protests expected at Columbia

Columbia officials say they expect more protests and counter-protests this evening and have asked people to avoid the area.

Additional security measures for tonight include increased patrols, more personnel for campus escort services and enhanced security along the perimeter of the campus.

Briefing begins

Columbia officials have just started a briefing on the campus protests.

Follow along for updates.

Why did USC cancel a top student's graduation speech?

Tensions have flared at the University of Southern California (USC) after it cancelled a student's graduation speech earlier this month.

The university said last week that Muslim student Asna Tabassum would no longer be allowed to give a speech as valedictorian due to unspecified security threats.

USC cited "substantial risks" to campus security in the decision to halt the address.

The move came after accusations that her social media presence was antisemitic. It has angered both those opposed to her speaking and those who want the speech to go on as originally planned.

"The university has betrayed me and caved into a campaign of hatred," Tabassum told the LA Times at the time.

She said she was the target of "a campaign of hate meant to silence my voice".

Columbia officials to speak to the press

We are about to hear from Columbia officials in a few moments who will be speaking to the press to give an update on the protests that have rocked the campus there.

Stay tuned for updates as we bring you the latest.

'Uncommitted' anti-Biden activists to join Michigan protest

The organisers of a protest vote movement say they will join the student activists camping at the University of Michigan.

The leaders of the Uncommitted movement told Reuters news agency that they would travel to join protesters on the campus in Ann Arbor, about an hour west of Detroit.

The movement began as a group called Listen to Michigan. Earlier this year they urged voters in that state to vote “Uncommitted” – a ballot option in several US states – rather than for Joe Biden in the state's Democratic primary. More than 100,000 did so - 13% of Democratic voters who turned out.

Michigan, which Biden won narrowly in 2020, is a key battleground state in November’s presidential election.

Uncommitted activist Abbas Alawieh told Reuters: "President Biden is choosing to put his hands over his ears and ignore the hundreds of thousands of people who have already come out against the war at the ballot box."

USC cancels main stage commencement ceremony

The University of Southern California has cancelled its main commencement ceremony scheduled for 10 May.

"With the new safety measures in place this year, the time needed to process the large number of guests coming to campus will increase substantially," the university said in a statement.

"As a result, we will not be able to host the main stage ceremony that traditionally brings 65,000 students, families, and friends to our campus."

The decision comes after police made multiple arrests after confronting protesters there on Wednesday and ordering the dismantling of a campus encampment.

It is also after USC said earlier this month that Muslim student Asna Tabassum would no longer be permitted to deliver a speech as valedictorian due to unspecified security threats.

Atlanta police say they did not use rubber bullets

The authorities in Atlanta have released statements with new details about the confrontation between police and protesters at Emory University.

Atlanta police say a protest group including both students and non-students was ordered to disperse but refused. Chemical sprays were used, police say, but they deny earlier suggestions that rubber bullets were fired.

The university also released a statement, saying that the initial wave of activists were not associated with the school, although “members of the Emory community later joined the initial group”.

The protesters, officials say, “were disrupting the university as our students finish classes and prepare for finals”.

Videos on social media showed a university professor among those being led away by police.

Emory said a “couple of dozen” people were taken into custody but declined to say exactly how many, or if any of the protesters have been charged.

Police chief and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in spat

A New York Police Department chief has hit back at Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after the Democratic congresswoman criticised Columbia University for calling in police to clear protesters from its campus.

In a post on X, Ocasio-Cortez, the representative for New York's 14th congressional district, described Columbia's decision as "horrific", adding that the units called in "have some of the most violent reputations on the force".

Responding on X, NYPD chief of patrol John Snell said the left-wing lawmaker's post was "Truly amazing!"

He added: "The only incidents that day on campus were the student's hateful anti-Semitic speech and vile language towards our cops."

Protesters turn on Biden

Bernd Debusmann Jr

Reporting from Columbia

At the student protests, anger is not reserved solely for the universities.

Many are also angry at the US government and President Joe Biden - whom they see as complicit with Israel's war in Gaza.

I just got off the phone with Chisato Mimura, a law student and protest leader from Yale.

She told me that many students at Yale's encampment blame Biden - a thought I've also heard here at Columbia and from other campuses.

"The US is quite literally funding and equipping the weapons used in genocide," she said. "The federal government, Biden, the White House, could act."

"But instead, what they're doing is completely putting their full weight behind it," she added. "We are well aware of the prominent role they are playing."

Israel strenuously denies any suggestion it is committing genocide in Gaza, though the International Court of Justice has said the accusation is "plausible".

Here at Columbia, another student - who asked to remain anonymous - said he believed the protest movement would hurt Biden at the polls.

"These guys are pretty liberal, mostly," he said. "But nobody will vote for him while the war is still going."

Campus protests grow increasingly political

As the protests become increasingly political, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders , an independent who caucuses with Democrats, has hit back at Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's description of the demonstrations as "horrific".

Sanders replied on X: "No, Mr Netanyahu. It is not antisemitic or pro-Hamas to point out that in a little over six months your extremist government has killed 34,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 77,000 – 70% of whom are women and children."

While left-wing Democrats have accused college authorities of a heavy-handed response to the demonstrations, other lawmakers in the party have voiced concern about reports of antisemitism at the rallies.

Republicans lawmakers have been more vocal in criticising the student activists.

South Carolina congresswoman Nancy Mace posted on X: “Today in the US, we have entitled little Ivy League students terrorizing Jews on campus and their punishment? Student loans paid off by American taxpayers. Thanks Joe Biden."

Senator Tim Scott - another South Carolina Republican and a possible running mate for Donald Trump - wrote on X: "We cannot be a nation of hate. Standing in the gap for our Jewish brothers and sisters is the right thing to do and it is the American thing to do."

What's happening right now?

Here’s a quick recap of the day’s events, as campus protests against the Israel-Gaza war continue to spread:

• Protests which began at Columbia University in New York City last week have now reached dozens of college campuses across the country
• Police confronted protesters who set up camp earlier today at Emory University in Atlanta. There are unconfirmed reports that authorities used pepper spray and rubber bullets
• More than 200 arrests were made on Wednesday at Emerson College , Boston; University of Southern California in Los Angeles; and the University of Texas at Austin
• Camps have been set up at schools across the country, including Northwestern near Chicago, the University of Michigan , the University of California, Berkeley, and others.

Jewish student speaks of feeling unsafe on campus

Sarah Smith

North America editor at Columbia University

I’ve heard nothing at Columbia University that could be described as antisemitic.

But speaking to Jewish students on campus, they say they have heard different chants and slogans over the last six months - before the TV cameras arrived - including calls for a global intifada, which they interpret to mean Israelis and Jews should be killed.

One Jewish student, who didn’t want to be named, had tears in her eyes as she told me she now feels deeply unwelcome on campus.

The fact that an unauthorised protest is being allowed to continue makes her feel that the university authorities are on the side of the pro-Palestinian demonstrators and therefore not on the side of Jews.

One wall in the middle of campus has been covered with photographs of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, and a sign saying: “Bring them home NOW!"

The Jewish students say that’s one thing they have never heard the protesters demand.

Emory University slams 'completely unacceptable' protest

People "not affiliated" with Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, have been arrested after setting up an encampment on school grounds, the school's president says.

Emory University President Gregory Fenves says several dozen protesters - "largely unaffiliated" with the university - entered the campus and were "disrupting" students in class.

"This is completely unacceptable," Fenves says.

An official from the school's police force told local news that those arrested will be charged with criminal trespass and assaulting police officers.

"The ones that were arrested, there wasn't anything peaceful about what was going on," Emory police Commander Thomas Mann told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper.

But not everyone detained on Thursday was unaffiliated with the university.

On X, formerly Twitter, video is circulating showing a woman who identifies herself as Noelle McAfee, chairwoman of the philosophy department at Emory University, being led away by an Atlanta Police officer.

Omar says Columbia 'crackdown' fuelled nationwide protests

I just spoke to Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a vocal critic of Israel whose daughter was suspended from Barnard College last week after being arrested at a demonstration.

In response to a question from the BBC, Omar said she believes it was Columbia's move a week ago to authorise police to clear the encampment that ultimately led to the spread of the protests nationwide.

"This is a movement that started with only 70 students," she said.

"And because Columbia University decided to crack down on them and violate their first amendment, this has now spread nationally and internationally."

She spoke after apparently leading a prayer with protesters on Columbia's campus.

Some of the demonsrators held up towels to obscure BBC reporters' view of what was happening.

In 2019 the congresswoman apologised after tweeting that US support for Israel was "all about the Benjamins baby", a slang term for $100 bills, a post that drew accusations of antisemitism.

Biden greeted by 'Genocide Joe' protest signs in Syracuse

Protesters just gathered as President Joe Biden turned up in Syracuse, New York state.

Around 100 demonstrators behind a barrier chanted: "Palestine will never die, Palestine will be free", according to local reports and reporters travelling with the president.

As the presidential motorcade pulled up at the Milton J Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology, demonstrators across the street also chanted: "Ceasefire now."

Some held signs saying: "Genocide Joe."

Biden visited the city to tout a new semiconductor facility subsidised with government funds.

Also at the event is New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

In pictures: Police clear Emory encampment

At Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, police have detained a number of protesters.

Authorities say the activists were ordered to leave the campus, but refused.

Here's some images of what ensued.

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What is Labour’s plan for rail travel and will it make tickets cheaper?

Party wants to fully nationalise train network within five years of coming to power, in ‘biggest rail reform for a generation’

Labour has made one of its most radical proposals yet in the run-up to an election campaign: to fully nationalise the train network within five years of coming to power.

The party has pledged to guarantee the cheapest fares as part of “the biggest reform of our railways for a generation”, bringing all passenger rail into national ownership under the Great British Railways (GBR) body.

So, how difficult would the plan be to enact and what does it mean for passengers?

How would Labour’s plan for Great British Railways change the way the trains are run?

The headline change is nationalisation: the ambition that all passenger train operations, at least, should return to public ownership. But the wider aim is that control of trains and tracks – “wheels and steel”, as some put it – is brought back under one unified structure, at arm’s length from the government.

The actual railway infrastructure is already managed by the state-owned Network Rail, since the disastrous tenure of Railtrack in the early days of privatisation, and train operations in Scotland, Wales and a large chunk of England are in public ownership. So a fully renationalised railway (bar the rolling stock and freight) is not as big a step as it may once have sounded – and arguably the pragmatic extension of the plans drawn up by the Conservatives in 2021, to end the fragmentation and waste in the system.

How long will the changes take?

Labour said it would get the ball rolling on day one. Given the years it has taken for the Conservatives’ GBR plans to crystallise into a draft bill that has scant chance of passing before an election, supporters of the changes would be forgiven for not holding their breath for legislation. But some of the spadework has been done by the GBR transition team, and Labour will be hoping for a more stable tenancy in Downing Street to see the policy through. It is, it stresses, a long-term plan.

As far as nationalisation of the train operators goes, most of the contracts of remaining operators will expire naturally within the next term, while the government can exercise break clauses in others, such as Avanti West Coast and Cross Country.

What would the trains look like?

Eventually, they would all be GBR-branded trains rather than the individual liveries and logos of different operators. Labour hopes that this will make things simpler for passengers, avoiding confusion over ticketing, as well as cutting costs.

Would it make train travel cheaper?

Possibly, but not for a while yet. Labour says it wants to make the railway more affordable but has definitively avoided any pledges to cut or even freeze the overall level of fares.

However, it believes that its plans will eventually save £2.2bn a year by avoiding the duplication and bureaucracy brought on by the current system, where the Department for Transport tightly controls and specifies contracts for the private firms, and reams of staff are employed in back-end roles. That could give ministers some scope to use more of the billions in annual taxpayer subsidy to bring fares down long-term.

What about this best-price guarantee?

Make that an “ambition”, according to the policy document . It’s testament to the complexity, or occasional absurdity, of UK rail fares that even after years of industry focus on improving the system, renationalising looks an easier promise than telling a passenger they’ve paid the right amount.

Things can be improved, Labour says, as contactless tap-in and tap-out payments extend through more and more of the country, opening up the possibility of a Transport for London-style system, where fares are streamlined and automatically capped or refunded.

The shadow transport secretary, Louise Haigh, pointedly chose the headquarters of Trainline in central London to launch her plans on Thursday, paying tribute to the travel app firm’s “relentless focus on passengers [and] improving their experience”. Trainline shares fell 10%, even though Labour says it has no plans to replace the private firm with a single state retailer.

But given that the app’s business depends on people paying extra to cut through the railway’s confusing fares, fragmentation and lack of a decent central ticketing site, Trainline shareholder nerves might be taken as a vote of confidence that GBR will improve the industry’s own offering.

How else might passengers benefit?

Labour says it would leave the running of the railway to the experts – but the transport secretary would set strategy and take on the role of passenger-in-chief, and the industry would not be “marking its own homework”.

The plan aims to strengthen the voice of passengers by rolling together the various bodies currently meant to be standing up for them – the watchdog Transport Focus and the little-known Rail Ombudsman, as well as a few divisions of the Office of Rail and Road.

What will happen to the private operators?

Their representatives at Rail Partners warn that it will be “messy” and the railway will lose their expertise. But the people actually running train operators, right up to the managing directors, have typically stayed in post with a different coloured badge when the owning groups moved on, and passengers at say, Southeastern or LNER may not feel life is very different. Firms once regarded as pillars of privatised rail such as Stagecoach, National Express (now Mobico) and Virgin have long exited UK rail already, pursuing business elsewhere.

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Students explore opportunities in Washington through WilDCats at the Capitol

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 24, 2024) —  Since its inception in 2016, the WilDCats at the Capitol internship program at the University of Kentucky has been paving the way for students to embark on transformative experiences in Washington, D.C.

Developed through a partnership between the Office of Federal Relations, the Department of Political Science in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Student Government Association, the program has become a cornerstone of experiential learning for UK students.

Gavin Cooper is currently a junior at UK studying community and leadership development. During the Spring 2024 semester, he’s been part of WilDCats in the Capitol interning in the office of Senator Joe Manchin (WV).

“My favorite part of this program is having the opportunity to get hands-on experience at a high level,” said Cooper. “Every piece of work here in D.C. affects our lives in intricate ways and this is an opportunity to see how everything happens.”

At its core, the program offers students a semester-long immersive experience in the nation's capital. Participants live together, take classes and intern full-time, all while staying on track to complete their degrees. This unique blend of academic and professional development enables students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings, preparing them for successful careers upon graduation.

“This program is really special because it has allowed me to gain impressive internship experience without interfering with my graduation timeline,” said Cooper.

Over the years, WilDCats at the Capitol has expanded its reach thanks to collaborations with various departments and offices within the university. Last year, the Office of Federal Relations joined forces with the Office for Student Success to promote the program across all academic colleges and departments, ensuring that students from every discipline have the opportunity to participate.

Amelia Iliohan is a UK graduate who participated in WilDCats at the Capitol in 2018. She grew up in a small town in Western Kentucky and says this program was the only feasible way for her to experience career opportunities in Washington. She now works as the associate director of events and member engagement at the National Association of States Departments of Agriculture (NASDA).

“This program created a gateway for me to find my passion for international agriculture,” said Iliohan. “WilDCats at the Capital is a comprehensive program that educationally, financially, socially and personally supports UK students from all colleges and all socioeconomic backgrounds. I would not be in Washington, D.C., today in a career I love without my experience in the program.”

Executive Director of Federal Relations Eric King expressed the university's commitment to prioritizing students' needs by announcing Matthew Jackson as assistant director of federal relations, who will manage and promote the WilDCats at the Capitol program. This strategic move underscores the university's dedication to expanding its reach in Washington, ensuring that students have unparalleled opportunities for growth and success.

The WilDCats at the Capitol internship program isn't just about gaining professional experience and making a difference. From working with Members of Congress to collaborating with top-tier organizations like NASA and UPS, students can explore diverse career pathways and make meaningful contributions to society.

The program invites all students to join them in Washington and become part of the WilDCats at the Capitol community. Their goal is to continue empowering the next generation of leaders while continuing education.

For more information on the program, including how to apply, visit www.uky.edu/wildcatsatthecapitol .

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.   

At the University of Kentucky, students are at the center of all that we do. From the moment you become a Wildcat through graduation and beyond, the Office for Student Success is committed to supporting you. Comprised of five areas and 25 units, together, they have one vision — to help students live a life of meaning. Student Success works through an equitable, holistic and inclusive lens to design and deliver unparalleled services and support a diverse community of learners in achieving their wildest ambitions. In the Office for Student Success this is what we do — this is who we are. You can explore resources available to you  here . If you have additional questions, you can reach a Student Success team member by calling the helpline 859-218-YouK (9685).

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Rail strikes in May 2024

22 April 2024

Industrial action across the UK national rail network has been announced for a number of dates in May 2024. Please be aware that your travel may be disrupted.

Rail staff have announced a new round of strikes to take place between Tuesday 7 and Thursday 9 May 2024 (the week of the May Bank Holiday) as part of a long-running dispute. 

The following services will be affected: 

• Tuesday 7 May : c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express and South Western Railway. 
• Wednesday 8 May : Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains. 
• Thursday 9 May : LNER, Northern Trains and TransPennine Express. 

In addition to this, union members will also refuse to work overtime from Monday 6 to Saturday 11 May, which means that some services could be reduced or cancelled. 

Travelling to campus 

If you are coming into campus, please be aware that your journey may be disrupted and allow extra time to get to your destination. You can visit Transport for London ,  National Rail or the Citymapper app , which might be useful for planning alternative types of transport such as bicycle and scooter hire, walking, buses etc. 

Please do keep following the news and the National Rail website for the latest updates. 

Advice for students 

It is possible that some of your teaching or other activities will have to be rescheduled or moved online if our staff are unable to travel or need to prioritise childcare responsibilities. 

UCL will make every attempt to keep activities running for students, with student-facing staff asked to come in to work where possible. If you are coming into campus please allow extra time to get to your destination and use the websites detailed above to plan your transport. 

Keep a close eye on your UCL emails and look out for Moodle page announcements. 

Advice for staff 

If you are unable to get to work using alternative transport, you should let your line manager know as soon as possible. If transport strikes affect your ability to come into campus, you are welcome to work from home on the affected days, if your job lends itself to home working. 

Staff unable to work from home can agree flexible solutions with managers such as using TOIL or making up lost time where possible. If alternative arrangements cannot be found, staff should arrange to take annual leave or unpaid leave, in line with our Special Leave policy on travel and weather disruption. 

Jewish professor barred from Columbia University campus as ‘pro-Hamas mob’ demonstrates

‘This is 1938’, says Shai Davidai, who has accused colleagues of being scared of pro-Palestinian protesters

A Jewish professor has accused staff at Columbia University of being “scared” to stand up to pro-Palestinian protesters after he was denied entry to campus over safety concerns.

It comes as 133 people were arrested at Yale and New York universities on Monday, as demonstrations over the war in Gaza continued to roil colleges across the US.

At the Columbia campus, pro-Palestine protesters have erected dozens of tents on the main lawn, demanding that the university supports a ceasefire in Gaza and divests from Israel funds.

Shai Davidai, an assistant business professor, claims his keycard to enter the main campus was deactivated by university authorities when he tried to hold a “stand up to terrorism” counter-protest on Monday.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: “Earlier today, Columbia University refused to let me onto campus. Why? Because they cannot protect my safety as a Jewish professor. This is 1938. ”

Prof Davidai, who was born in Israel, had organised a counter-demonstration, which he promoted as a “peaceful sit-in” and “safe space for Jewish students to stand up to terrorism”.

But, after being unable to enter Columbia’s main campus to attend, he said: “I have, not just a civil right, a civil right as a Jewish person, to be on campus. I have a right as a professor employed by the university to be on campus. They deactivated my card.”

He also accused staff of being “scared” of standing up to what he described as “the pro-Hamas mob”.

Writing on X, he told them: “You are worried about how the pro-Hamas extremists (and the brainwashed cult they’ve amassed) will react if you try to disperse them.

“But being scared is not an excuse for not doing the right thing. Being scared is not an excuse for choosing the pro-Hamas mob and their violent chants over the Jewish professor who believes in co-existence.”

Prior to his arrival at the campus, Prof Davidai had emailed Columbia’s administration to request New York City police escorts to ensure his safety.

“Since the events of last night have shown that you have completely failed to protect the safety of your Jewish and Israeli students , I am requesting approval to have a police escort of at least 10 cops with me,” he wrote, referring to reports last weekend of anti-Semitic behaviour.

He added: “I would ask for escort from the school’s Public Safety [team], but they have proven themselves useless versus these mobs, and I do not want to put their lives at risk.”

Cas Holloway, Columbia’s chief operating officer, replied by highlighting his concerns about Prof Davidai staging his event in the proximity of pro-Palestine demonstrators.

“Because of the obvious risk to the safety of students and other members of our community, we strongly urge you to ask any students and colleagues who may have planned to join you to change their plans,” wrote Mr Holloway.

“As a faculty member, you have a fiduciary duty to do everything in your power to help keep our students and campus safe.”

Prof Davidai’s ordeal follows a warning from Elie Buechler, the campus rabbi, who told Jewish students at Columbia to stay at home because of the “level of hatred” they are forced to endure.

More than 100 arrests were made last week after Baroness Shafik, Columbia’s British-American president, called in police to deal with unruly behaviour.

The arrests sparked acts of solidarity at other institutions including Boston University, the University of North Carolina, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California.

All in-person classes at Columbia have since been cancelled due to the level of “intimidation and harassment” related to the Gaza conflict .

The protesters have already prompted major donors to reconsider their relationships with the prestigious institution.

Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots and an alumnus of Columbia, said he would be ending his long record of donations to his alma mater until “corrective action is taken”.

Mr Kraft said he would always be “grateful” that the university’s full academic scholarship granted him his “start in life”.

But he said: “I am deeply saddened by the virulent hate that continues to grow on campus and throughout our country.”

He added: “I am no longer confident that Columbia can protect its students and staff and I am not comfortable supporting the university until corrective action is taken.”

Arrests at Yale University

Elsewhere, at least 47 pro-Palestine protesters were arrested at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut, after police were called following complaints about “harmful acts and threatening language”.

“I was deeply saddened that the call for civil discourse and peaceful protest I issued was not heeded,” said Peter Salovey, the president of Yale.

He added: “We became aware of police reports identifying harmful acts and threatening language used against individuals at or near the protest sites. Some of the aggressors are believed to be members of the Yale community while others were outsiders.”

At New York University (NYU) in Manhattan, an unspecified number of arrests were made after police tried to clear a makeshift encampment set up by pro-Palestine protesters.

Video on social media showed officers tossing tents, grappling with demonstrators and loading people, whose hands were tied behind their backs, into police vehicles.

Police said over a megaphone that protesters were arrested for “disorderly conduct”, according to the Washington Square News, a student newspaper.

NYU spokesman John Beckman said they exhibited “disorderly, disruptive and antagonising behaviour” and there were “several anti-Semitic incidents reported”.

Increased scrutiny over anti-Semitism

University chiefs across America are facing increased scrutiny over whether they are doing enough to protect students and staff from anti-Semitism . Columbia’s struggles to deal with anti-Semitism on campus also have financial implications.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a Columbia graduate, said he was stopping donations immediately over the college’s inability to keep Jewish students safe.

Another billionaire investor, Leon Cooperman, a business school graduate, said he will continue a pause in donations which began shortly after the Oct 7 Hamas attack.

A third billionaire donor, the industrialist Sir Leonard Blavatnik, is considering whether or not to continue his financial support.

In a statement to the New York Post, Sir Leonard said: “Columbia University’s leadership must take immediate steps to ensure that Jewish students are protected from threats and intimidation , and that those who violate their policies are held to account.”

Between them, the three men are estimated to have donated $100 million (£81 million) to Columbia, which has been spent on buildings and scholarships for students.

What are the Free Palestine protests about?

The cry “Free Palestine” is a rallying call for protesters angry about Israel’s military campaign in Gaza , which has so far killed more than 33,000 people, and its wider territorial claims to the West Bank, where violence is also flaring.

Pro-Palestine supporters have organised demonstrations in cities across the United States since the Hamas attack of Oct 7, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in 250 people being taken hostage.

University campuses have been a focal point for the outrage among young people after a coalition of student groups at Harvard released an open letter blaming Israel for the Oct 7 attack .

After the president of Harvard resigned amid criticism over anti-Semitism on campus , New York universities have staged the biggest flashpoints between the authorities and the pro-Palestine movement.

Speaking from the New York City court where he is being tried over alleged hush money payments, Donald Trump, the former president, also weighed in on the protests .

“What’s going on at the college level and the colleges Columbia, NYU University, this is a disgrace,” he said. “If you have nobody up in a college, where you have very radical people wanting to rip the colleges down … that’s a shame.”

He blamed the unrest on Joe Biden, the president, saying: “He has the wrong signal. He has the wrong tone. He’s got the wrong words. He doesn’t know who he’s backing. And it’s a mess.”

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