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Ordering your bus/train pass (with financial support)

Alton Campus

Bus passes:
The College will pay for a student’s bus pass if the student lives beyond 0.5 miles of Alton Campus and is studying a full time course (not including Higher Education courses) and either the student or the parent/carer is in receipt of an income-based benefit. There will be no additional cost to pay once we have seen and approved your application. Stagecoach charges the College £800 per annum for each College bus pass, so it is important that students look after their pass.

Train passes:
Students who wish to use the train to travel to Alton Campus and who would normally be entitled to a college-funded bus pass (in receipt of an income-based benefit), may have the equivalent value of the bus pass (for their area) deducted from the termly train pass. The remaining cost of the train pass (if necessary) would need to be paid by the student before collecting the pass. First-year students will need to supply a passport-style photo when collecting the pass as this will be needed for your SWR photocard. Continuing students can use their existing photocard.

The income-based benefits accepted for the College’s Travel and Financial Assistance Scheme are:

  • Income Support
  • Working Tax Credit (not solely Child Tax Credit)
  • Employment & Support Allowance (income related)
  • Council Tax Support (other than single occupancy)
  • Job Seekers Allowance (income based)
  • Housing Benefit
  • Pension Credit (Guarantee element)
  • Universal Credit (other than the Child Tax Element and the total annual household income cannot exceed £28,000 – this amount must  include any Universal Credit Payments, wages and benefits received)

If the household is in receipt of an income-based benefit, you will need to complete an application form. You can complete an online application that is quick and easy, and this method also allows you to upload evidence of your proof of benefit either by scanning it in or taking a clear photograph on your mobile phone. We would strongly encourage you to use the online application form as it limits the amount of paperwork being handled: click here to access the online application form.

If you prefer to print and complete a paper version of the application form, you can do so here.

The application form must be submitted or returned to the Student Travel & Support Office (Alton Campus) by 7 August 2023 in order to guarantee that your travel pass will be ready for the start of term (we will continue to process application forms after this date but we cannot guarantee when passes will be ready for collection).

You can submit or send your application form in even if you do not have your proof of benefit to hand, as this can be provided later. Please make sure all relevant sections are completed fully. Please make sure the application form’s terms and conditions are agreed/signed by both the parent/carer and the student – we will have to return any paper applications that are not signed.

If your application form is submitted by 7 August 2023 and it has been approved by the Student Travel & Support Office:

  • your train pass will be available to collect on the first day of term from the Student Travel & Support Office
  • your student bus pass information (on how to obtain your bus pass) will be emailed to the student after you have officially enrolled at HSDC from late August onwards. Please check your emails nearer the time.

Application forms received after this date will still be processed but there may be a delay in receiving your pass. Students will need to pay for their own travel until their pass is ready. You must show your student College ID card to the bus driver when using your College Bus Pass (student College ID cards will be issued to new students on their enrolment day).

First-year students must supply a passport-style photo for their train photocard. Continuing students can use their existing photocard.

Hampshire County Council assists with travel expenses for post-16 students with special educational needs or students who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The support provided requires an annual parental contribution. If your child qualifies for free school meals due to low income, the fee may be waived. Students wishing to apply for help with transport can do so by accessing the Hampshire County Council website for further details here.

Alton Campus

Contact the Student Travel & Support team by emailing travelandsupport@alton.hsdc.ac.uk or calling us on 01420 592229.

Havant & South Downs campuses

Looking for travel and support information for Havant and South Downs campuses? Visit our helpful pages here.

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