Budgeting as a student can be tricky. From course materials to extracurricular costs, it’s sometimes a challenge to make that student loan stretch as far as you need it to.
So, when it comes to travel, be it a journey home for laundry (and to see the dog) or a post-exam celebratory trip with friends, finding the funds isn’t always easy.
If you’re wondering how to get cheap train tickets as a student, here are some tips.
1. Buy your tickets as far in advance as possible
One of the easiest ways for students to save money on train travel is to book early. Advance tickets are often released weeks ahead of travel dates, and are usually much cheaper than buying closer to the day.
If you already know when you’ll be travelling, booking early can help you lock in a lower price. For example:
- Book your train journey home at the end of term well in advance.
- Plan your return journey to uni after the holidays end.
- Factor in any fixed mid-term travel (like reading weeks) and get your tickets ahead of time.
Get notified when your tickets go on sale
If you’re unsure when tickets will be released, setting up alerts for your journey means you’ll be notified as soon as they go on sale, giving you the best chance of securing the cheapest fare.
You can easily do this online using our Ticket Alerts service.
2. Don’t overpay for flexibility you don’t need
Flexible ‘Anytime’ tickets can be useful, but they’re not always the most budget-friendly option for students. Usually, uni and college students get their termly timetables weeks in advance, making less flexible tickets a sensible way to save money without compromising on convenience.
For example: If you have to be on campus every Wednesday at 2 pm for a check-in with your tutor, for example, book tickets for those exact times. This helps you avoid paying more for wide windows of time you don’t need.
3. Use a fare finder to spot savings
If you’ve got time between lectures and essay deadlines, spending a few minutes comparing different fares can save you a considerable amount.
Before you book, use our Best Fare Finder booking engine to identify the cheapest available options for your journey.
If you’re making longer journeys with typically higher fares - like between uni and home, or just at peak times during breaks - our booking flow can help identify savings.
4. Get a Railcard and use it every time you travel
For instant and continuous savings, a Railcard is your best friend as a student. Pay once a year and save up to 50% off all your train fares. While the upfront cost can sometimes deter students, a £35 Railcard quickly pays for itself in just a few journeys.
If you’re studying at college, uni, or sixth form, here are the student Railcards available to you:
With a Railcard, every single journey is cheaper, whether it’s school-related or not. That means that getting the train home after a gig or travelling to see friends at other universities will cost less, too.
Can university students get a free railcard?
Student Railcards cost around £35 on average from rail operators like Avanti West Coast. Occasionally, certain companies (often banks or universities themselves) run promotions that allow students to get access to discounted or even free Railcards.
For example, in 2025, Santander started offering young people a free 16-25 Railcard as a perk for opening an Edge current account with them.
5. Travel off-peak whenever you can
Unless you’re commuting to your job, the chances are you’ll have very few peak journeys to make as a student, with lectures and seminars scattered throughout the week. If your travel times are flexible, travelling outside of peak hours can help reduce costs.
- Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets are usually cheaper and can also mean quieter journeys (giving you the potential for a table all to yourself for studying on the go).
- Odd hours are your friends when it comes to saving money. For students heading home or visiting friends, travelling earlier in the day, later in the evening, or midweek can often be kinder to both your budget and your stress levels.
6. Avoid booking fees with the Avanti West Coast app
Third-party resellers often add booking fees to their tickets, and these minor fees can all add up - especially if you’re making regular journeys.
Booking directly through the Avanti West Coast app helps you avoid these unnecessary costs, while giving you easy access to your tickets on your phone.
Download our app today
7. Save on regular travel costs with Season or Flexi Season Tickets
If you know all your contact hours for the term ahead, you can plot any regular journeys you’ll need to make (like weekly travel for lectures, placements, or part-time work).
Instead of buying individual fares every time. Avanti West Coast’s weekly, monthly or annual Season tickets give you unlimited travel between two stations for a set period.
For example: If you regularly travel between the station nearest your student accommodation and the centre of the city for in-person seminars, opt for a 7-day Season ticket and save on every trip.
If your course offers more hybrid learning, a Flexi Season ticket gives you 8 days of travel in 28 days (at any time between two stations) to better suit your schedule.
8. Forfeit speed for savings
As a student, you’re probably used to deadlines by now. But if you haven't got a hard deadline for your arrival time, and don’t mind spending slightly longer on our comfy trains, longer journeys can save you pounds.
Sometimes a slightly longer route with one change can be cheaper than the most direct option, especially on popular student lines.
With free WiFi on board, wireless charging points, and refreshments to keep you fuelled up, you could use that extra travel time for some more last-minute cramming or presentation prep, too.
9. Always remember your (valid) Railcard when you travel
While this might sound obvious, if you’re using a Railcard, you must carry it with you on your journey. Your Railcard may need to be shown, alongside a valid ticket, to staff. This can either be in digital form (on your phone), or as a physical Railcard, which must be signed by you and legible.
The photo on your Railcard must also meet the necessary requirements.
Forgetting your Railcard can result in paying for a new ticket on the day, an avoidable extra cost. In some cases, you may even be issued with a Penalty Fare.
10. Don’t automatically default to return tickets
Between essay deadlines and keeping up with extracurriculars, we know there’s a lot on your plate as a student. But if you can handle an extra train ticket, you could save a whole lot on your fares.
Two single fares can sometimes be cheaper than a return ticket, especially for Advance tickets. If you can commit to a specific travel time, then opting for Advance single tickets (rather than more flexible walk-up fares) could save you money.
Student savings at Avanti West Coast
Avanti West Coast makes it easier for students to travel for less. We accept a range of Railcards and ticket options, all designed to help you access the best fares. Because saving on train travel doesn’t have to mean sacrificing comfort or convenience.
A little planning goes a long way, and with the right choices, you can keep more of your student budget free for the things that matter most, while still getting where you need to be.
