FREE Travel Deal
FREE BUS TRAVEL for EVERY full-time 16-18 year-old student.
FREE Unlimited Bus Travel for 16–18 Year Olds
If you’re aged 16–18 and studying a full-time course at Sandwell College, you can get FREE unlimited bus travel – not just to college, but for every journey you make.
Your bus travel is covered for:
- College days
- Work experience and industry placements
- Evenings and weekends
- All year round
No daily fares, no weekly tickets, just unlimited bus travel – giving you the freedom to get where you need to be, when you need to be there.
Travel that opens up opportunity
Free travel removes a major cost for young people and families, making it easier to access education, training and real-world experience.
Unlimited bus travel helps you:
- Get to college every day without worrying about costs
- Travel to work experience and placements across the region
- Take part in enrichment, events and social activities
- Access opportunities without being limited by where you live
It’s one less thing to worry about, so you can focus on your future.
Where you can travel by bus
Your free pass gives you unlimited bus travel across the West Midlands, including:
- Sandwell
- Birmingham
- Dudley
- Walsall
- Wolverhampton
- Solihull
- Coventry
Travel is valid seven days a week, all year round. And remember, we’re right next to West Bromwich bus and Metro stations, with plenty of routes stopping here, including:
3, 3A, 4, 4H, 4M, 5, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 48A, 49, 54, 54A, 74, 79, 80, 89
Metro travel – Top-Up
If you use the West Midlands Metro, you can add this as an optional top-up to your pass, giving you extra flexibility where needed. Please speak to our Hub Xtra team on floor three, who will be more than happy to support you.
What you need to know
- Free unlimited bus travel for 16–18 year olds on a full-time course, excluding those studying an apprenticeship
- Valid all year round, seven days a week
- Covers travel to college, work experience and placements
- Metro travel available as a paid top-up
Subject to government funding, a £10 photocard fee, and meeting attendance, progress and behaviour requirements.
Free Financial Support for Disadvantaged Students
We can also provide extra financial support to adults and young people who meet our criteria. Young people may be entitled to a £1200 bursary (dependent on circumstances and performance) if they are:
• in care
• leaving care
• in receipt of income support
• in receipt of both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance.
We can also help young people who were in receipt of free school meals at school and young people where household income falls below £30,810 (most other Colleges fix this at around £20,000).
For young learners where the household income falls below £30,810, we can provide financial support for College trips and activities, equipment, uniform and books. They will not be entitled to a bursary.
For adult learners who meet the criteria, we can support childcare, equipment, trips, books, uniform and travel. Support is subject to the availability of funds. There is also a small amount of funding available to pay for exam and course fees. Again, adults must meet the criteria and support is subject to availability.
Support Links
Access key support services, resources, and guidance to help you throughout your time at Sandwell College.
