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Advice for commuting students

A commuting student at York St John is any student that has the same home and term-time address.

Student riding bike down path in front of campus building

We have a dedicated contact for commuting students who can help you manage the impact commuting to university may have on your academic studies and wellbeing.

We can also meet with you to discuss your travel options, or help you decide whether commuting is the right choice for you.

Contact us about commuting by emailing SuccessAndEngagement@yorksj.ac.uk.

Transport

You can apply for a car parking permit that allows parking at 1 of our accommodation sites.

Blue badge holders are guaranteed a free permit. Students with a disability or medical condition and students commuting from outside York will be prioritised for a parking permit.

University parking permits cost £60 a year. Discounts are available for car sharing and low emission vehicles.

Find full details and apply for a parking permit below.

Car parking for students

Top Tips

Buying tickets in advance means that you can get the cheapest deals on train fares.
Do your research on what type of train ticket is best for you (for example, advance singles, open returns, season tickets)
Make an appointment with the commuting student adviser for more information or help finding the best travel routes and tickets for you.

Railcards

All full time students are eligible for a 16-25 railcard which can save you 1/3 off travel.

You can buy your railcard online or pick up a form at the Student Information Desk on campus.

If you are over 25 you must have the mature student section of the railcard form completed by a member of staff at the Information Services Desk on campus.

Additional discounts

Sign up for UniDays or a TOTUM card for even cheaper rail fares.
Transpennine Express give 50% off train tickets with a 16-25 railcard when you book in advance.
CrossCountry give an extra 10% off when using TOTUM card (on top of the 16-25 railcard discount).
LNER give 40% off train tickets with UniDays (cannot be used with the 16-25 railcard discount).
Grand Central give an extra 25% off (on top of 16-25 railcard discount).

There are multiple Park and Ride facilities which have bus routes around the city. You do not need to be in a car to use the Park and Ride buses.

iTravel have a helpful York Bus Route Map which details all of the bus routes around the city of York. You can pick up a paper copy from the Information Services desk on campus.

First Bus York and Arriva offer student discounts to York St John students.

The First Bus app and Arriva Bus UK app let you know when your next bus is arriving, see available capacity, and buy cheaper tickets in advance.

There are over 300 bike racks located across our campuses on Lord Mayor's Walk and Haxby Road.

York is a cycle-friendly city. iTravel York offers a comprehensive cycling web page which includes a cycle route map of the city of York. You can pick up a York Cycle Map from the Information Services desk on campus.

If you don't have a bike, consider using the TIER e-scooters and e-bikes. We have several parking locations on campus.

If you travel to campus by taxi, or need to get a taxi once on campus, we have a dedicated taxi pick up spot opposite the Porters Lodge.

Getaway Cars and Streamline both have a handy booking app and offer a 10% discount for York St John students.

Streamline offer a student safety policy. If you are in a situation where you do not have any money after a night out, you can give them your student card and pay the next day at their office.

Accommodation

Need to be on campus for a 9.00am lecture? Avoid the rush-hour traffic by staying overnight in our exclusive accommodation for commuting students at The Grange.

Overnight accommodation for commuting students can be booked for £20 a night from 26 September onwards. The accommodation is available at The Grange, during your stay you will be provided with bedding, access to shared kitchen and bathroom facilities.

Please note: this accommodation can be booked for 3 nights a week maximum and is allocated on a first come first serve basis. You must submit your request with a minimum of 2-working days notice to allow the request to be processed. As this accommodation is limited, we will not process block/multiple bookings at once, you may only book one period at a time.

To book accommodation as a commuting student, complete the form below:

Commuting student booking request form

Completing this form does not guarantee accommodation. We will be in touch with you shortly to advise if a room is available. Any information regarding your booking will be sent to your university email address.

Lockers

There are free lockers available on campus, for day use only.

Ground floor Library - These are only available during Information Service desk opening hours. Collect a key from the desk.
Ground floor Foss building - These are free but you need a £1 coin to operate them (which is returned after use).

Catering facilities

The Student Kitchen is on the second floor of the library and is open 24 hours. There are 2 microwaves and a hot water tap, perfect for making a cup of tea and heating up your lunch!

A hot water tap is located on the Ground Floor of the Fountains Centre near the vending machines. Hot water is also available free of charge from all catering outlets if you bring your own cup.

The Chapel has a small kitchen and quiet space which is available for students to use during the day.