To be eligible for a Railcard, students must be in full-time education. This is defined as 15 hours or more a week for at least 20 weeks a year.
16-25 Students
Students between the age of 16-25 can complete an application form or apply online. Students can request a 1-year railcard (£35) or a 3-year railcard (£80).
You can buy or renew your 1-year 16-25 Railcard up to and including the day before your 26th birthday and keep using it until its expiry date. With 3-year 16-25 Railcards you can buy them up until the day before your 24th birthday, which will make the expiry date the day before your 27th birthday.
To buy online, simply click Buy Now on the website homepage and follow the instructions on the screen. You will need to provide a valid passport or UK driving licence or EEA National Identity Card number to prove your date of birth and a digital passport-style photo.
Mature Students (26+)
Mature students aged 26+ can apply for a 1-year railcard at a rail station or via the 16-25 Railcard website. To apply online you will need to complete the Mature Student Application Form including the "Mature Students Only" section, ensuring that it has been signed by either your tutor, head tutor, head of department or University/College administration staff member. Please note that students on home study and distance learning courses are not eligible. Please allow up to 5 working days for your Railcard application to be approved.
You will also need to provide either a NUS card or a College/University photo ID card to confirm that you are in the current academic year of study.
What happens once I’ve applied?
If you have ordered a plastic 16-25 Railcard online, please allow up to 5 working days for delivery. If you paid for ‘Special Delivery’ and placed your order before 15:45pm, your Railcard will be delivered within two days (Monday to Thursday) or three days (Friday to Sunday).
If you have purchased a digital 16-25 Railcard, it will be available to use straight away. A download code will be sent to your registered email address, along with instructions on how to download your Railcard.
You cannot travel on discounted tickets until you have received your Railcard.
A £12 minimum fare applies Monday to Friday between 04:30 and 09:59.
Any questions or queries regarding the application process may be covered under Buying Online FAQs - 16-25 Railcard. Any further queries should be directed to National Rail. The university is not affiliated with this process in any way.