Transport and Travel

Travel Planning

At Edinburgh College, it is our duty, during a climate emergency, to support low-carbon, sustainable travel and ensure that travel is not a barrier to studying or working. Any journey can incorporate health and wellbeing when it involves active travel. 

Due to its wide geographical reach, in most cases the College's timetabled courses should take place on a single campus to minimise intercampus travel. Staff are also based on one campus but do attend work at other campuses where required (with a specific policy in place to manage this for lecturing staff). For intercampus travel, the college encourages the use of its electric car fleet.

The sustainable hierarchy, published below, is useful for all communications with students and staff. It provides a visual representation of the meaning of sustainable travel, which can easily be tailored to encourage the best travel option messaging, such as considering walking 20 mins each day (if you are able) to use public transport and feel healthier.

Air travel is not referenced below as it would only be used for students or staff attending campus in exceptional circumstances, which would need to be agreed by the Chief Operating Officer.

Prioritise Sustainable Transport 

1. Walking and wheeling
2. Cycling
3. Public Transport
4. Taxis and shared transport
5. Private car

Plan your journey

Campus parking

Limited parking is available at each campus. Parking permits are required to park in campus car parks and must be displayed on your vehicle at all times. These can be requested by collecting a form from campus receptions during your induction or at the start of your course.

Permits must be displayed in your car from September 2025. After this date, tickets may be issued to anyone who does not display a valid permit or who parks in prohibited areas outside parking bays.  

All returning students are required to apply for a new car parking permit each year. Previous permits will no longer be valid.

Electric Vehicle Charging

Students and staff who use electric and hybrid vehicle charging posts at Edinburgh College campuses will be required to pay to charge their cars. 

These new tariffs have been introduced in line with pricing for electric vehicle (EV) charging across Edinburgh and the rest of the country.

The cost of charging your car at our campuses 

AC Chargers

• 0.50p connection fee
• 0.40pp per KWA
• Max Stay 4 hours, with 30 min grace.

Anyone wishing to use the charge posts will require a ChargePlace Scotland account card, which can be purchased for £10 by registering with ChargePlace Scotland | Scotland's Public EV Charging Network. Tariff payments will be taken from your ChargePlace Scotland account.

Liftshare

The College’s membership means that you can join the online Liftshare community to find people to share a car with to get to campus.

Visit Liftshare, where you can register for free as a student or staff member. Once registered, you can search for other members travelling in the same direction and contact them to arrange a lift share.

Liftshare could prove to be a cost-effective way for you and your friends, classmates or colleagues to travel to campus, particularly while we face high fuel costs.

What’s more, you’ll be doing your bit for the environment by reducing the number of cars on the road, and there will be less competition for parking spaces on campus. Sign up for Liftshare.