Getting Here – Travel: Bus Passes and Parking Information

Cycling
Cycling
If you would like to use the secure cycle parking in front of the main reception at the Colchester Campus, contact the facilities Help Desk on 01206 712111 for further details.

Local organisations supporting cyclists include:

Buses
Buses
If you are under 19 years old at the start of your course, you may be eligible for help with travel costs through Essex County Council’s Post-16 Transport Assistance Scheme. Full details are available from Essex County Council

If you or your family are claiming benefits and you are on a Further Education course we may be able to support your travel costs through our discretionary support funds. Please contact Student Services for further information.

All students can benefit from discounts on First Bus services

First Bus Pass Tickets – 2023-24 prices to be confirmed

Zone 1: Abberton, Alresford, Braiswick, Berechurch, Eight Ash Green, Fingringhoe, Greenstead, Highwoods, Mile End, Old Health, Parsons Health, Rowhedge, Shrub End, Stanway, West Bergholt, Wivenhoe

Zone 2: Ardleigh, Brightlingsea, Coggeshall, Halstead, Great Yeldham, Kelvedon, Maldon, Witham, Tiptree, Layer de La Haye, West Mersea.

Zone 1

Ticket TypeCost
Week£15.10
Month£54.10
Term 1£121.00
Term 2£94.10
Term 3£94.10

Zone 2

Ticket TypeCost
Week£29.00
Month£105.20
Term 1£225.10
Term 2£174.70
Term 3£174.70

All Essex

Ticket TypeCost
Week£30.30
Month£108.60
Term 1£297.00
Term 2£231.00
Term 3£231.00

First Bus m-tickets can be purchased from:

Mobile ticketing is the easiest and most convenient way to buy your ticket 24/7. Purchase your mTicket wherever and whenever you like and activate just before boarding.

  • First m-ticketing app – pay by credit card or debit card. You will need your student email address to verify your purchase.
  • Student emails are activated once you enrol on your course and follow this format:  First name + first initial of surname + last four digits of student ID number + @colchester.ac.uk
  • For example:  Joe Bloggs, student ID 1234567
  • Email address: JoeB4567@colchester.ac.uk
  • Password: password 1234567.

Emails can be accessed via this weblink here:

If you experience any problems with your student email account, please contact the IT Helpdesk by calling 01206 712222 or email: ILT Service Desk

First Bus paper tickets can be purchased from:

For information on First Bus services, please contact First Bus Customer Services:

0345 646 0707
9am to 5pm Monday – Friday

Colchester Travel Centre

26 St Botolphs Street
Colchester
CO2 7EA

Tel: 07816 595921

Arriva – Student Travel 2023-24

Can be used in the Colchester Zone – click on link for the Arriva map: Colchester Ticket Zone | Arriva Bus

Arriva daily, weekly, four weekly bus passes (Adult tickets) can be purchased from either the :

Arriva website :  Herts and Essex Ticket Zones | Arriva Bus or the

Colchester Institute on-line store

Colchester Travel ZoneCost
Daily£4.90
Weekly£17.00
4 weekly£60.00

Collect your travel voucher from Student Services and exchange it for a ticket on the bus

Arriva termly bus passes (student tickets) can be purchased from:

Colchester Institute on-line store

Colchester Travel ZoneCost
Autumn term£205.00
Spring term£145.00
Summer term175.00

Arriva annual bus passes (student tickets)

You can spread the cost of an annual ticket if you pay by a monthly direct debit.  Please visit the Arriva website for full details:

www.arrivabus.co.uk/monthlytickets

Hedingham – Students 19 and under can receive a Young Person deal directly through Hedingham.

Trains
Trains – Greater Anglia passes
Scholars’ passes can be purchased directly from Greater Anglia at the following website: https://railplus.greateranglia.co.uk/.

Staff and Student Parking
Car sharing

Giving friends and classmates a lift to campus is a great way to reduce the costs of travelling as you can share petrol and parking costs.

There are specific parking spaces for car sharers at Colchester campus and you can apply for a car share permit at the Facilities Help Desk in Q House. If you can’t find someone to car share with you can use Essex Car Share to find or offer a lift.

Can I park on site?

There is student parking at both the Colchester and Braintree campuses, however this is limited and there is no guarantee of a space.

Colchester Institute has been a cashless campus since 2020 and in line with this, our car parks are managed by ANPR barriers and we use app-based technology to pay for Pay and Display parking with JustPark. Please go to the Apple App Store or Android Play Store to download the app and add your details prior to parking on campus.

Parking Permits

There is no longer a requirement for staff and students to display a physical permit on their dashboard. The online system logs all details of registered vehicles and uses ANPR to allow access.

You are not authorised to park onsite unless registered with JustPark and you will not be able to gain access until this has been completed. For those dropping staff and students off, this is still possible and you will not be charged providing you exit the campus as soon as you can following the drop off.

Parking Tariff

  • Pay and Display – £2.50 per day
  • Staff – £11.90 per month deducted monthly for 10 months [Sept-June]
  • CLMG – £ 24 per month deducted monthly for 10 months [Sept – June]

How do I pay for my Pay and Display Parking?

There a number of ways to pay for your parking now online or by phone, but please be aware there are no onsite payment facilities. Failure to pay for parking as above will mean you will not be able to park on campus.

Staff Parking – How are monthly deductions taken?

Prior to the new academic year, a staff survey will be sent to capture registration details of vehicles and for you to advise what tariff you will be using. Please ensure that this is filled out accurately and returned as soon as possible. Failure to do so will mean you will not be able to access the campus in the new year without having registered.

Staff parking on campus is now operated on an opt out basis. A survey will be sent each summer for the purpose of updating any registration details. At any point during the year if your details change, or you wish to cancel your permit please get in touch with facilities.helpdesk@colchester.ac.uk.

There is no charge for any student parking at our Braintree Campus on production of a valid student ID.

Please note: all vehicles are left at the owner’s own risk. The College accepts no liability for loss or damage to vehicles or belongings left on premises.

Help with transport and travel costs

Apply now for help with your course related costs. For students with an identified low household income, there may be financial support available. Bursary awards can help with your course related costs such as travel, childcare, books and equipment and much more.

Click here to visit our student finance section to find out more:

Student Finance – Bursary Applications