LOCAL TRAVEL ABERDEEN
Getting around town and to your university will most likely be done on foot, by bus, or via use of a bike on cycle routes that most university towns have. Some towns also have a subway system such as London (Underground), Glasgow (Subway), Newcastle (Tyne and Wear Metro) or Birmingham (Midland Metro). Other cities have a Tram network such as Edinburgh, Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield. In these particular cities, you will find that the various modes of transportation are linked under one payment system such as is the case with the Oyster Card which can be used to access the Underground as well as any of the red public buses in London. Click on your city below and find out how to secure your preferred mode of transport.
Bike
Where can I buy a bike?
You can find excellent deals on brand new or second-hand bikes online on Gumtree. With Gumtree, you can pay only on collection and in cash. So do not feel the need to advance any money to any seller even if they demand this.
There is also a local shop that sells second-hand bikes at decent prices called Skyline.
Where can I hire a bike?
University of Aberdeen students can hire bikes from the Students’ Union at Elphinstone Road for FREE. You can view the details here.
RGU students can hire bikes from RGU GoGreen BikePad for £20 a semester or £40 for the whole academic year. Your rental comes with a helmet, lights, hi-vis jacket and lock effectively getting you road ready.
Bus
Young Persons’ Travel Scheme: Anyone under the age of 21 can apply for a YPTS card which entitles you to FREE travel on all bus services in Scotland. To qualify, you must meet the age requirement and be resident in Scotland for majority of the year (at least 6 months). You can apply here.
UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN STUDENTS: There are two local bus companies that operate in Aberdeen: First Bus and Stagecoach. The most commonly taken route for UoA students is the 9U operated by First Bus which runs between Hillhead (main campus), Old Aberdeen (Sir Duncan Rice Library) and Foresterhill which cover the key areas where you will be spending most of your time. You can download the First Bus app and access a full year’s student discount here.
Stagecoach also runs bus services along the same routes although less frequent than First Bus. You can plan your journey, get timetables and get student discounted tickets here.
RGU STUDENTS: First Bus services 1 & 2 operate between the city centre and the Garthdee Campus, which is the main campus, on a regular basis. You can download the First Bus app and access a full year’s discounted academic pass here.
Stagecoach also runs bus services that a less frequent than First Bus but also run similar routes. You can track the maps, schedules and student discount tickets here .
Taxi
THERE IS NO UBER IN ABERDEEN. Most of you from out of town will be arriving by plane or train and would require a taxi. Aberdeen has no rideshare apps but here are a few local taxi companies you can call:
Train
Can I get Student Discounts on Rail Travel?
Access to Scotland and the wider UK is served by an extensive rail network from Aberdeen Station. We highly recommend you apply for the 16-25 Railcard which saves you 1/3rd off the price of any rail ticket. If you are older than 25, you may apply as a mature student and get the same benefits and discounts. It costs only £30 for the whole year and is renewable if you are staying beyond a year. You can apply here.
Where can I buy train tickets?
Once you have got your Railcard, we recommend you use the Trainline ticketing platform to buy your ticket. You can download the app here and not only get tickets but also check timetables and updates.
REMEMBER!!! Before checking-out, make sure you include your Railcard in order for your 1/3rd discount to be applied. Also remember to carry your Railcard with you (whether physical or digital) as it will be checked on the train by the train conductor. .