Travelling by bus

Our Edgbaston campus is a major hub for the South Birmingham bus network and boasts ten direct bus routes, making it easy to get to where you want to go. With discounted student passes available, travelling by bus is good for your bank balance too.  

Not sure if bus travel is a good option? Want to get out and see Birmingham? We've got you. We've teamed up with Transport for West Midlands, who are offering free 4-week bus passes for new undergraduate and postgraduate students, covering the nBus network area. There'll be two opportunities to register, from Monday 18 - Sunday 31 August and Monday 8 - Monday 22 September. You can also register at the Welcome Fair in the Great Hall over Arrivals Weekend. We'll release the online sign up when it's ready. You'll need to use your UoB student email address.

Bus routes

Local routes 61, 63, 41, 48, 76, X21, X22, 19, X20 directly serve campus, linking the University to the city centre, local train stations and neighbourhoods. The circular 11A and 11C routes also run nearby. 

National Express (NX) is the main service provider. It's easy to buy single tickets, passes, and excellent value group tickets through the mTicket app or via contactless on the bus – just tap and go. 

Student tickets are only valid with in-date student ID so make sure to carry your UoB ID card when you travel.

Ride for less

To help you get around, you can benefit from exclusive discounted bus passes with National Express West Midlands, accessable through the University of Birmingham student bus pass portal only. 

There are two types of pass available, both offering 20% savings:

• Student four-week ticket – 28 days of travel on all buses in the West Midlands. This pass is ideal if you know you're going to be using the bus for a finite amount of time, or want to try it out.  
• Monthly direct debit ticket – travel on all buses in the West Midlands for a minimum of nine months. Payments are taken automatically from you bank account and will end when you ask National Express to cancel the ticket. This pass is perfect for you if you'll be travelling around Birmingham regularly for at least nine months (e.g., postgrads and commuter students). 

You can buy the above pass types elsewhere (e.g., on the NX mTicket app). However, you will not receive the 20% discount.

Once you've selected your ticket, you can choose whether to have it on the mTicket app or added to your Swift card. You'll also need to set your ticket start date. If you've selected the nine-month pass, this will be the date each month that money is taken from your account via direct debit. You'll need to pay for the first month up-front too. 

To collect your ticket through the mTicket app, you will need to create an account with your @bham.ac.uk email address. If you’ve opted to upload your ticket onto your Swift card, the easiest way to access it is through the TfWM or Swift Collector app. Open the app and hold your card against the back of your phone until you see your chosen ticket appear on screen.

Need help with booking? Get in touch with our Sustainable Travel team below. 

Booking support 

Free Bus Passes for New Students

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) are offering FREE 4-week bus passes to new undergraduate and postgraduate students. The ticket allows free travel in the nBus network area.

You’ll have two opportunities to register – please note you can only sign up once!

• Your first chance will be to register online (link TBA) using your University email address between 18-31 August.
• Your second chance will be between 8-22 September, either online (link TBA) or at the Sustainable Travel stand at the Welcome Fair on 20, 21, and 22 September.

How does it work?

Sign up online using your @student.bham.ac.uk email so TfWM know you’re a UoB student. To receive your free travel, don’t select the frequent use options (every day or more than twice a week).

When the form closes you will receive an email with a claim code and further instructions on how to claim your ticket.

*Remember to order your ticket to your term time address so you can make the most of it when it arrives.

When will I receive my ticket?

Once you’ve ordered it, expect to wait a few days for your Swift card to arrive.

What happens next?

When you receive your Swift card, use your first 4-week ticket from your selected start date. If you would like to continue to use the bus, we recommend that you use the University discounted scheme described on this page.

I already have a bus pass, but I want to use this ticket – what should I do?

You can choose your ticket’s start date to be up to about a month in future. This means you can time it so your free ticket starts after your current pass has expired.

Any other questions?

Email sustainabletravel@contacts.bham.ac.uk with your query and we can assist you.