Important information for 2025/26 students
This year there are going to be choices for parents/carers to consider on how their young person gets to college. Please see the options below to decide on the best choice for you based on your circumstances. Most students will be able to access a Go Cornwall bus service. Please note that Go Cornwall College bus passes are not interoperable (your bus pass cannot be used with multiple bus operators), except for the Gorran Haven, Padstow and Port Isaac Stagecoach connections as detailed in our FAQs below.
There are four simple steps to remember when securing a Bus Pass for College ahead of the new term.
- CHOOSE which travel option is best for you
- APPLY for a College bursary
- PURCHASE your bus pass on the College Online Store*
- ACTIVATE your Buss Pass in the GoCornwall or RideTandem App**
*Go Cornwall and RideTandem passes only. For other providers please purchase your pass on the Transport for Cornwall App.
** The Ride Tandem App is used for the STEM & Health Skills Centre, Bodmin students who connect via Callywith College bus services.
If you require support for transport questions please email indicating your query and for which campus to transport@truro-penwith.ac.uk where someone will aim to respond within 3 working days.
STEP 1. CHOOSE which travel option is best for you
2025/26 Student Travel Options for Truro campus and Penwith campus
The following travel information is for students who have applied to study at the Truro campus and the Penzance campus.
Go Cornwall Truro and Penwith College bus pass: This bus pass will allow travel to and from the College on Go Cornwall services for the start and end of the college day, as well as travel across the wider Go Cornwall network at other times of the day, evening and weekend.
The options are:
A. The Go Cornwall College tendered bus services which we would advise for those on the following routes as this will ensure direct arrival and departure which is co-ordinated around the college day. Download the bus routes here:
Please note: Transport For Cornwall passes will not secure travel on the tendered route. Please book a seat on the tendered service via the College Online Store.
B. Other Go Cornwall Public bus services around Cornwall when there is no dedicated service. For bus timetables please follow this link: Bus timetables & maps - Transport for Cornwall. New routes are being added across Summer 2025 so please check timetables regularly.
Other Bus and Rail operators: Alternatively, other public transport networks eg. rail or bus where there are not Go Cornwall scheduled routes or the dedicated Truro and Penwith college service. Please note you will be able to purchase monthly passes or day tickets direct from these providers. The providers pricing structure can fluctuate in year and current subsidies are available but will be reconfigured at end of March 2027.
Cornwall Council Assisted Transport: Cornwall Council has sent post-16 parents’ communications about services available across the county and eligibility criteria under their transport plan via the schools’ communications platforms. Please click here to establish whether you qualify. Please note: Cornwall Council’s Transport option is for dedicated bus routes that have guaranteed services only at the start (9.15am) and end (4.15pm) of each college day.
For assisted transport, the deadline to apply and pay your contribution to the Council is Sunday 27 July. To allow time for eligibility assessment and advance payments for the start of term, bursary applications must be submitted to us by Friday 11 July.
Park and Stride: If you are a Truro student and wish to drive to college you must use FREE parking at the Park and Ride service. Students can then choose to Park and Stride to college or pay for Park and Ride. Eligibility for the Truro campus parking is for limited users and the criteria is strictly operated. You can find our eligibility criteria here. Applications are open once a student has enrolled. We advise all students not to park in nearby residential areas. Penwith and STEM Health Skills Centre students can park free of charge at their respective campus but will have to apply for a permit.
2025/26 Student Travel Options for STEM & Health Skills Centre, Bodmin campus
The following travel information is for students who have applied to study at the STEM & Health Skills Centre Bodmin campus.
Direct College bus service: We have formed a partnership with Callywith College and Stagecoach to ensure transportation to the campus, which we would advise for those on the following routes as this will ensure direct arrival and departure which is co-ordinated around the college day. Download the bus routes here:
You will need to use the RideTandem app to access your bus pass. Your bus pass will be issued to you on the RideTandem app once your payment has been made via the College's Online Store.
You can download the RideTandem app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Public transport: Utilise the public transport network, where there is no college direct bus service or a combination of both. You will be able to purchase monthly passes or day tickets direct from these providers. Please note, the providers’ pricing structure can fluctuate in year and current subsidies are available but will be reconfigured at end of March 2027.
Cornwall Council transport: Cornwall Council has sent post-16 parents communications about services available across the county and eligibility criteria under their transport plan via the schools’ communications platforms – see link to establish whether you qualify. Post-16 Travel Assistance - Cornwall Council.
For assisted transport, the deadline to apply and pay your contribution to the Council is Sunday 27 July. To allow time for eligibility assessment and advance payments for the start of term, bursary applications must be submitted to us by Friday 11 July.
Park on Campus: Parking at the STEM & Health Skills Centre is limited to designated Ottery Building areas on campus, but it is free to park. Applications for permits are open once a student has enrolled. We advise all students not to park in nearby residential areas.
STEP 2. Apply for a college bursary
We understand that many students travel a long distance to college and that the costs of travel are high. The College can help most students with the costs of travel.
Students can apply to receive a bursary which could include support for travel, free school meals and kit for courses where this is a compulsory requirement.
Non-bursary bus passes - If you are not applying for a bursary please go to Step 3. Note: if your chosen travel option is a College tendered bus, all students are eligible for a bursary to assist with the price of this pass.
STEP 3. PURCHASE your bus pass on the College Online Store*
*Go Cornwall and RideTandem passes only. For other providers please purchase your pass on the Transport for Cornwall app.
Go Cornwall bus passes are now available to purchase on the College Online Store. Passes must be purchased by Friday 28 August to guarantee they are available before the start of term. You can download instructions on how to purchase your bus pass below.
STEP 4. ACTIVATE your Bus Pass in the GoCornwall or RideTandem App*
*The Ride Tandem App is used for the STEM & Health Skills Centre, Bodmin students who connect via Callywith College bus services
Please note this step will be available as follows: First Years: at your induction, Returners: week before start of term
Once you have purchased your bus pass you will receive an email to your student college email address with a code to activate your ticket in either the GoCornwall or Ride Tandem App. Bus Pass codes will be issued from September 01 and valid for travel from September 08. Instructions on how to activate your ticket can be found below.
Frequently asked questions
There are three ways to view a Student ID. In an accepted offer letter, in the parent College Portal where you signed consent forms or via the student's own portal account.
If you have a split journey, please designate your point of destination route number in your application (Truro, Penwith or Bodmin campus).
If travelling to Truro campus from Mevagissey, Gorran Haven, Padstow or Port Isaac, your connection service will be a Callywith Service, changing at St Austell or Wadebridge respectively. The Callywith timetables are now being updated to reflect correct connection times.
If you are travelling to Truro from the Lizard or Coverack, your connecting change will be in Helston at the Tesco store.
Bus Pass codes will be issued from September 01 and valid for travel from September 08.
If you do not purchase a pass in time, you will have to pay the daily fare of £6.00 per day until a pass is purchased and processed.
Passes must be purchased by Friday 28 August to guarantee they are available before the start of term. Any passes purchased after this date may not be available for 08 September.
The Tregye Shuttle will run from Truro Campus to Tregye at 9.30am each morning and return in time for bus departures at 4.15pm. This is a private shuttle, so pass holders of any service provider may use this bus. Those who walk to Truro Campus from home and do not have a bus pass may travel on production of their Student ID card on this service only.
- These passes must be purchased directly from the provider you wish to use.Â
- Passes can be purchased at any time leading up to the start of term. You will need a pass to travel or pay the full fare.
- To find your routes and purchase passes, go to Transport for Cornwall - Bus tickets, timetables & more Â
- Download the Transport for Cornwall App – available for Apple and Android mobiles.
Student Parking Permits will only be issued if you fulfil one of the following criteria:
- You are a Blue Badge holder.
- You have a medical diagnosis as evidenced on your student MIS record.
- You have a child or children in primary education with an EHCP whose condition may need an urgent response.
- You live more than 3 miles from the nearest bus stop.
- You have to catch two or more buses making your journey 90+ minutes each way.
- You only require motorcycle parking.
- You will be parking at Penwith, Tregye or Ottery.
While most journeys to education/training providers, including those involving students with Special Educational Needs/Disabilities (SEND), can be undertaken independently and without the need for travel assistance, some students with Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs) and/or other registered disabilities/conditions may require travel assistance to access College. This may be in the form of a Disability bus pass, assisted travel or mileage allowances and these arrangements must be applied for directly with the Local Authority and are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Please visit Post-16 Travel Assistance - Cornwall Council for full details including the post-16 transport policy and an easy read fact sheet.
Access to HE Diploma students aged 19+ can apply for the adult bursary.
Eligible students may receive a free college meal on days timetabled to be in college and a fuel allowance or free bus pass and, if applicable, help towards the cost of childcare.
The annual household income threshold for the adult bursary is £35,000 or below. If living independently or with a partner, the household income must be declared when making an application. If you are living with your parents whilst completing the Access to HE Diploma you will be assessed based on your income.
Quick links
College online store
purchasing a bus pass
activate your bus pass
apply for a bursary
The College's friendly Student Services and Transport team is available to help:
Transport:Â transport@truro-penwith.ac.uk
Truro College Student Services: 01872 305718 | studentservices@truro-penwith.ac.uk
Penwith College Student Services: 01736 809407 | penwithstudentservices@truro-penwith.ac.uk
STEM & Health Skills Centre Student Services: 01872 267586 | studentservices@truro-penwith.ac.uk
