Student and Apprentice travel
Welcome to our web page that's just for students and apprentices.
We know money can be tight when you're studying or on an apprenticeship, so that’s why we want to make sure you know all about the great deals and offers we have available for you. You can get great savings of up to 25% off bus tickets provided you can verify you are a student when using our app or key smart-card.
Student fares effective from 2nd April 2025
Metrorider Crawley and Horsham
| 1 day 24 hours - app | £4.50 |
| 7 days - app and key | £18.30 |
| 30 days app | £60.50 |
| 91 days- app and key | £158.30 |
| 12 months key | £575.30 |
For more details on valid fare zones please check here.
Metrovoyager
| 1 day app | £6.70 |
| 7 days - app and key | £25.10 |
| 30 days app | £85.90 |
| 91 days- app and key | £253.50 |
| 12 months key | £915.00 |
Prices for key tickets bought from the Crawley Travel Shop or Redhill travel Shop cost slightly more. Click here for details.
Other fares that might be available
West Sussex 16-20 Bus Saver
Anyone aged 16 to 20 and living in West Sussex can now purchase a 16-20 Bus Saver fare or ticket, which is the same price as the existing child rate. The scheme applies to any direct journey starting, wholly within, or finishing in West Sussex. Discounted tickets are available via our app, or from the driver using contactless payment cards or cash. Click here to view the West Sussex 16-20 Bus Save tickets available on our mobile app.
East Sussex Freedom Ticket
Under 19s living in East Sussex are able to get a card which allows the purchase of a Freedom ticket from the driver for £15 per week, which is accepted fir travel on most buses in East Sussex and on routes where journeys start or finish in East Sussex. 16-18 year olds need a 3i-D card to buy one and don't even need to be attending school or college.
Surrey 16-20 Link Card
Holders of a 16-20 Surrey Link Card are able to purchase a single journey capped at £1.50, and a return capped at £3.00 on any route which is not primarily for transport to or from school. These tickets will be available from the bus driver on boarding the bus, and can be purchased either with cash or with a contactless payment card.
As these tickets are only available on routes which are not primarily for school transport, they are not available for sale on routes 324, 609, 611, 612, 617, 619, 624, 657, 658, 695 or 866. On these routes, holders of 16-20 Surrey Link cards can travel for child fares purchased from the driver.
Link cards are only issued to Under 21s living in Surrey, and can be used for any trip that starts, ends, or is wholly within the Surrey County Council area. For more information on how to apply for a link card, please click here.
Kent
16-19 year olds in school, college and training can apply for a 16+ Travel Saver which provides up to 50% off travel on journeys starting and/or finishing in Kent. An application fee applies. Click here for details.
How to get student tickets
Our mobile-ticket app can be downloaded free from both the Android Play Store or iPhone App Store. Once downloaded, simply buy your ticket with our app and scan the barcode when boarding. You will need to complete this verification before you can activate any student tickets. This process can take up to 24 hours so please allow plenty of time before you need to travel. Once you have been verified as a student or apprentice, you will not need to do it again until your verification has expired.
The key smart-card can be registered at our Crawley or Redhill travel shop where you show a valid student card. Once registered as a student, you can top up online at https://key.metrobus.co.uk/smart-card/
If you top up online your new ticket can take up to 5 hours from the purchase time to be available to use on the bus. This excludes Annual tickets as this requires a predetermined start date of at least 48 hours after the date of buying a product.
Apprentices
Apprentices can also get up to 25% student discount off many of our tickets. To get the discount, apprentices should take their enrolment or confirmation letter, or student ID card into one of our travel desks at Crawley or Redhill Travel Shops. If you prefer using our mobile app, we’ll help you get verified whilst you wait. If you prefer using our key card, we’ll arrange to print one straight away for you.
Apprenticeships should be registered with the UK Register of Learning Providers. Check this here by downloading the CSV file.
Choose a greener future
By taking the bus, you're also doing your bit for the environment too. One bus can take up to 75 cars off the road and if everyone travelled more sustainably there'd be less congestion too. Check out how many carbon emissions you've saved by using our journey planner. It will also tell you how many steps you've walked, helping you reach that illusive 10,000 a day.
Terms and Conditions
To view our student terms and conditions please click here.
To enable us to continue offering the best value student fares, it is important that only passengers entitled to these tickets use them. If you are using a key card, please carry your Student ID (valid UK university, UK college or ISIC card) with you to show to a company employee if requested. If you are using mobile tickets, your photo will be displayed on the screen, so no further ID will be required.
Please note that UNIDAYS or NUS/TOTUM cards are not accepted as student ID.