Commuting to university
Commuting to NTU is becoming a popular choice for a growing number of our students who live at home. We’ve got campuses across Nottinghamshire, each uniquely developed and easily accessible to meet the needs of our students who commute.
Whatever your reasons for commuting, NTU offers the support, services and facilities to suit your personal circumstances. From places to eat and drink, communal areas and spaces to meet friends, events and activities, to lockers to store your equipment and study spaces that are open round the clock – we understand your need to have flexibility and choice in how you study and socialise.
Options for travel
Here’s a few options of how to commute to our campuses.
Car share
NTU operates a car sharing scheme especially for students. It's designed to help you reduce your daily travel costs and CO2 emissions at the same time. It's totally free to use and enables you to find others going your way, so you can share the journey. You don't have to do it every day and is completely flexible. Once you've found others going your way, you decide among yourselves how often it suits you to share. You can sign up and find a car share companion or two at Lifeshare.
City Campus
If you’re looking to drive to our City Campus, we’d recommend using Nottingham's Park & Ride services and boarding any tram serving Toton Lane or Clifton South. If you’re intending to park in the city centre, the closest and largest parking facilities are Trinity Square (NG1 4BH), Talbot Street (NG1 5GG) and The Victoria Centre (NG1 3PR).
If you are a Blue Badge holder or need to bring your car to the University because of your medical condition, there is a range of Blue Badge car parking across the city – including free disability car parking at The Cornerhouse (NG1 4BT).
Confetti Campus
Located in the heart of Nottingham’s Creative Quarter, there are a limited number of Pay and Display parking spaces on King Edward Street, Brook Street and Bath Street. Nearest car parks are Brook Street (NG1 1DY) and The Victoria Centre (NG1 3PR). There is a range of Blue Badge car parking across the city – including free disability car parking at The Cornerhouse (NG1 4BT).
Clifton Campus
Our Clifton Campus (NG11 8NS) has a student car park that operates a parking permit scheme for students who travel in from further than NG14 and those that live in the greater Nottingham area with extenuating circumstances. There are also accessible parking spaces available to blue badge holders. A standard permit cost is £150, that is purchased through our car parking services in September.
If you are not eligible to purchase a parking permit, we recommended that you use Nottingham's Park & Ride services. You can park at the NET Tram Park & Ride - Clifton South site and catch the tram, getting off at the Rivergreen tram stop – just a ten-minute walk from Clifton Campus
Brackenhurst Campus
There are free on-campus student parking spaces available at Brackenhurst Campus (NG25 0QF). If you are a Blue Badge holder or need to bring your car to the University because of your medical condition, we may be able to provide a parking space. Parking is not guaranteed and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Mansfield Hub
There’s ample free and blue badge on-site parking available at our Mansfield site (NG18 5BH).
Further information and links to travel and car parking can be found on our StudentHub.
City Campus
Nottingham Railway Station is just a 20-minute walk from the City Campus. You can also take the tram from the Railway Station to the Nottingham Trent University stop which take around 10 minutes.
Confetti Campus
You can easily get to our Confetti Campus by catching the 11 NCT bus (Stop S5) outside Nottingham Railway Station and getting off four minutes later at George Street (Stop H2). It's just then a short four-minute walk off the bus.
Clifton Campus
From Nottingham Railway Station you can take the Uni 4 bus service to the Clifton Campus. It runs Mondays to Fridays during term time, stopping on Campus and is every 7 minutes at peak times.
Brackenhurst Campus
The closest station to our Brackenhurst Campus is Lowdham Station which is 5 miles from the campus. To complete your journey you need to catch the NCT Pathfinder 26 bus which takes 10 minutes.
Mansfield Hub
NTU in Mansfield is around an 8-minute drive or 35-minute walk from Mansfield train station. Trains to Mansfield from Nottingham city centre take approximately 50 minutes and run regularly throughout the day.
Visit the National Rail website for information on timetables and student railcards – which can save you 1/3 on rail fares.
Nottingham City Transport (NCT) offer frequent routes across Nottingham, with buses running to all our campuses to and from Nottingham city centre. If you’re travelling from outside of Nottingham, our bus stations have direct travel links to cities such as Loughborough, Derby and Mansfield.
For travel to City, Clifton, Confetti and Brackenhurst Campuses visit the NCT website to access the prices for student travel passes and the NCT Journey Planner
Clifton Campus
The Uni 4 bus runs on Mondays to Fridays during term time between the City and Clifton Campuses, stopping on the Campus. This is every 7 minutes at peak lecture times and every 30 minutes at evening. If you’re travelling at the weekends or out of term, you can catch South Notts 1 which stops outside the Clifton Campus on Clifton Lane. Buses are every 20 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes. A £1.80 student fare is available on South Notts 1 and Navy 4 between NTU Clifton Campus and the City Centre, which is available when you show your NTU student ID card.
Mansfield hub
For students travelling in from Nottingham to the Mansfield hub there is a 30% discount on bus travel with Pronto Stagecoach when showing an NTU student ID card.
City and Clifton Campus are both easily accessible by Nottingham Express Transit (NET) trams from the city centre. The nearest stop to the Clifton Campus is Rivergreen tramp stop – just a 10-minute walk from Clifton Campus, whilst our City Campus has it’s own NTU tram stop outside of Boots Library.
Find more information on discounted travel options for students on the Nottingham Express Transit (NET) website.
Cycling is the cheapest and quickest way for most people to get around at NTU. Making the decision to cycle to university can save you money on transport costs, as well as getting in your daily exercise.
If you don’t own a bike many of our students use the Ucycle student bike hire scheme. You can hire a bike for £49 a year, alongside support from the City Campus based workshop, where expert mechanics and advice is available.
You can also join NTU Cycling – offering multiple sessions a week of both road cycling and mountain biking, weekly social events and many trips across the UK.
Cycling facilities
There is secure compounds for cycle parking at all campuses with changing rooms and locker facilities available in all main buildings.
National Express run frequent daily services into the Broad Marsh Bus Station in Nottingham (NG1 7LS) from across the region with popular routes from Leicester and Birmingham. Review all travel routes at National Express.
Study-life balance
Commuting to university gives you the added benefit of balancing life at university and time spent living at home. You’ll be able to set clear boundaries and effectively plan your studies and social activities.
Whilst you’re on campus, there’s lots of facilities and places to explore during your free periods. Whether you’re looking to catch up on some reading in Boots Library, trying out the soup of the day at the Pavilion Barista or meeting friends in the Brack bar, there’s a huge range of communal spaces, study areas and refectories across our campuses for you to use in between study.
Spending time on campus
A big part of your university experience as a commuter student will be your student life outside of study including socialising, friendships, sports, extracurricular activities, and entertainment. As an NTU student you can use all the study, social and sport facilities at all campuses.
Here's a quick guide to what's available across our campus network:
Social spaces
There’s something at the City Campus for everyone. From the Boots Library to our stylish Student Union building, which includes a shop, multi-level gym, a live venue, a bar, and the pick of the campus’ chill-out space.
The Newton building is the central hub of the City Campus and is the ideal space for students to relax and share ideas. You can choose from the Central Court, Newton Forum or Benefactors' Court to socialise in a soothing learning environment. There's no need to leave the building for refreshments, as there is catering available in cafe Arkwright in addition to coffee and sandwich bars. The Student Services Centre is also conveniently located here and there are resource rooms available for PC use.
The Boots roof garden offers space for students to relax, socialise and study in. Accessed through the top floor, the garden has Wi-Fi access, lots of seating and some covered areas to shelter you from the elements.
Sport
You can enjoy the great range of sports facilities including a multi-purpose sports hall; indoor pitches and court; a two-storey, 100-station gym; a sports therapy suite, for physiotherapy and massage; a dance studio; and a 30ft climbing wall.
Outdoor spaces
Dryden Corner, near our Bonington building is a bright and airy space in which to stop off and enjoy lunch or catch some sunshine between lectures. Designed by NTU alumna Jackie Setchfield, the corner garden features the rill, a relaxing water feature and seating.
Facilities
There are numerous places across City Campus to shower and store your belongings during the day. Buildings including Arkwright, Dryden, Boots library, Chaucer, Belgrave Centre, Bonington and the Students' Union all have shower facilities with Arkwright and Bonington having locker facilities.
If you prefer to bring food from home you can use the Dryden building student kitchen which includes hot water dispenser and a microwave. There are multiple water dispensers in the main buildings across campus to allow you to refill water bottles and access drinking water.
Nottingham
Located in the very heart of Nottingham city centre, our City Campus couldn’t be any more conveniently located. From our Newton building you can walk to both the market square and the Victoria Centre, Nottingham’s main shopping hub, in less than five-minutes.
Social spaces
Clifton Campus is a vibrant student village with everything you need right on your doorstep, from shops and cafes to The Point, Clifton’s own students union complex complete with bar, coffee shop and nightclub. The Pavilion is the central building for students offering flexible and contemporary study spaces in a relaxing social environment. You can access student support services in the Clifton Student Services Centre just off the plaza.
Sport
Clifton Campus is home to the Clifton Sports Hub – the University’s main sports and fitness hub. Outside lectures you can use the gym, indoor and outdoor pitches, multipurpose sports halls, fitness and performance suites, and a whole range of clubs and classes.
Outdoor spaces
The campus has been awarded the Green Flag since 2012 in recognition of its green spaces within its 32 hectares, including a foodshare allotment, meadow areas, woodland and nature trail – all for students to use and enjoy.
Facilities
Buildings across Clifton Campus that have shower and locker facilities include the Clifton Sports Hub, Pavilion building, Ada Byron King, Mary Ann Evans and Erasmus Darwin.
If you are bringing food from home you can use the New Hall block student kitchen which includes hot water dispenser and microwave. There are multiple water dispensers in the main buildings across campus to allow you to refill water bottles and access drinking water.
Clifton
Just off campus and a short 10-minute walk is the large village of Clifton with a range of shopping centres and retails parks. A regular bus service takes you from the centre of campus right into Nottingham city centre in about 20 minutes using the Uni 4 bus, which runs every 7 minutes in term time.
Social spaces
Brack Bar is the centre of the student community on Brackenhurst Campus – there’s always something going on, from big nights out to relaxed quiz nights and movie screenings. Our Orangery café is another great place to chill and recharge with a coffee in between lectures, while the Lyth building boasts social and teaching spaces and is the home of our student support services on campus.
Sport
On campus there’s a football pitch, a cricket square and nets, and our famous Equestrian Centre – here, you can take riding lessons, or compete in dressage and show-jumping events. You can also take advantage of our partnership with Southwell Leisure Centre for discounted membership for their gym, fitness classes, swimming pool and courts.
Outdoor spaces
Whilst on this beautiful 200-hectre campus, you’ll be able to explore some show-stopping Green Flag awarded facilities in the great outdoors including farmland, gardens, a wetland conservation area and surrounding woodland, with designated walks around the estate.
Facilities
Buildings across Brackenhurst Campus that have shower and locker facilities include the library, Bramley and the Animal Unit and Veterinary Nursing Centre.
If you're bringing food from home, you can use a microwave in the NTSU Brack Bar. Hot water is available from the hot drinks machines in the Refectory in the Lyth Building. You can access multiple water dispensers in the main buildings across campus. You can use them to access drinking water and refill water bottles.
Southwell
You’ll find the beautiful town of Southwell on your doorstep. It’s home to some of the county’s finest shops, pubs, restaurants, and markets and is a 15 minute bus journey on the NCT Pathfinder 26 bus from the campus stop.
The Confetti Campus is a collection of specialists hubs including Confetti HQ, Metronome, Confetti X and Sapce2. Within Confetti HQ you can use the social spaces, contemporary café and rooftop terrace.
Confetti students can also use the social and sport facilities at the nearby City Campus and other NTU campuses.
At the Mansfield Hub the University Centre building is where most people hang out in between lectures and includes social spaces, a comprehensive library with rooftop terrace, and study areas – with a café now open. As this is a shared site with Vision West Nottinghamshire College, NTU student can also access sport, beauty and health, and catering facilities at the college. You can access water dispensers in the main buildings to refill water bottles.
NTU Mansfield students can use the study, social and sport facilities at all other NTU campuses.
Mansfield
The market town of Mansfield is right on the doorstep and is home to a wide range of shops, pubs and restaurants. From the nearby Cauldwell Road you can catch the Stagecoach Pronto bus which takes 10-15 minutes into Mansfield.
Fiona Morris
BSc (Hons) Geography
“As a commuter student, the community feel on campus was a big part of NTU’s appeal. Brackenhurst is such a beautiful place, and the facilities are just great. My week is full of lectures and seminars, but you also do a lot of independent study – and that’s where having such a good library really comes into its own! There’s always something going on at the Brack Bar, and it’s nice to have that right on your doorstep. The city of Nottingham is great for a night out too, and the Students’ Union is constantly hosting exciting events.”
Student life
Making friends and meeting people
There are endless ways to enjoy yourself, learn new things and make friends at NTU. From societies and sports clubs to music, volunteering, and working as a student ambassador – there’s a huge range of events and activities to take part in and get the most out of student life.
NTU is a great place to build on your current support network. Getting involved with as much as you can outside of lectures will help you to make friends, by trying something new or meeting like-minded people with similar interests. Connect with people on your course and join in School events and activities to get involved and be part of this great community.
Find out about all of the opportunities in our Student Life webpages.
Your Students’ Union
With its exciting entertainment, social, sports and leisure spaces, NTSU is run by students, for students. It’s the heart of student life!
Sport
With sports clubs, scholarships, gyms and a range of fitness classes, there's something for all abilities – whether you’re an expert or a complete beginner.
NTU Arts
NTU Arts is our extra-curricular arts programme that helps students, staff and the public get enjoyment and inspiration from creative activities.
Faith and Chaplaincy
NTU Faith and Chaplaincy is committed to supporting the faith, spirituality and wellbeing of all students and staff here at NTU.
Gurpreet Singh
BA (Hons) Marketing
“I studied at City Campus, travelling into the City Centre daily on the bus by using a student bus pass. Having the student bus pass was really helpful as it meant I didn’t need to worry about getting a new ticket for every journey. I could go to different campuses or go home in any long free periods if I wanted to – all using one pass.
Commuting to university seemed a little scary at first and I was worried about how I’d make friends. However, there’s so many things to do around the university that can help you settle in. Getting involved by trying out different societies and sports clubs in your first term is a really great way to make friends.
I got in involved with the Play for Fun sessions so I could take part when I was able to and eventually joined the Ultimate Frisbee club during my first year. Not only did it help me stay active, but it helped me settle in as there were other first-years on the team too. My friend group ended up being students in the same societies as me as we all shared the same interests. Commuting to society socials or sessions at other campuses was never an issue thanks to the discounted travel on trams and buses.”
Open days
There's nothing like seeing something for yourself, especially with a life-changing decision like going to university. With so many factors affecting your choice, visiting in person could completely change your mind.
Attending our open days and events is the perfect way to see for yourself what makes life and learning at NTU so special.
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You can find out what's happening across our campuses including activities, programmes and events by following our social channels.