- New discount tickets will be available for the 2025/26 academic year
- BROOKESbus contract will expire on 30 June 2025
- New BROOKESkey and Inclusive Travel Passes will not be issued
- Existing BROOKESkey and Inclusive Travel Passes due to expire at the end of August 2025 will remain valid to this point (or until their expiry date, if different)
- 100 and 400 bus services will continue
- Local transport authorities expected to make a decision by the end of June on whether the 400 bus route will continue to serve Harcourt Hill (or terminate at Seacourt Park and Ride) for a further 12 months beyond 30 August 2025.
New bus discount offer as BROOKESbus, BROOKESkey and Inclusive Travel Passes end
The University is announcing an end to the current BROOKESbus service and BROOKESkey.
As part of this, we will introduce new, discounted bus travel options for students and staff for the 2025/26 academic year. This will allow access to a wider range of Oxford Bus Company routes covering the majority of greater Oxford.
To replace the BROOKESkey, we will introduce the following subsidies to support those studying and working in Oxford at our Headington Campus* with bus travel requirements for the 2025/26 academic year.
- Free** CityZone annual passes for Oxford Brookes student bursary holders living more than one mile from Headington Campus during the academic year.
- A subsidised annual CityZone pass costing £125** for Oxford Brookes student bursary holders living less than one mile from Headington Campus during the academic year.
- A subsidised annual CityZone pass costing £125** available to any Oxford Brookes students living more than two miles from Headington Campus during the academic year.
- A subsidised annual CityZone pass costing £220** available to any Oxford Brookes student (where the above eligibility criteria does not apply) or any Oxford Brookes member of staff.
Without the subsidies being offered by the University, a CityZone pass for the year would cost approximately £700.
We expect these subsidised CityZone passes for staff and students to be available for purchase from Oxford Bus Company from the last week of June 2025 onwards and will be valid for one year from point of activation.
* Headington Campus is made up of the Gipsy Lane, Headington Hill and Marston Road sites.
** Subject to an additional annual £10 admin fee. Prices quoted are for a single year and may be subject to inflationary increases for any future years of study.
After careful consideration, the University has decided not to renew its BROOKESbus contract with Oxford Bus Company (OBC) when it expires on 30 June 2025.
OBC’s existing 400 and 100 buses, which operate as part of the current BROOKESbus service, will continue to run from July despite the contract ending. Local transport authorities are expected to make a decision by the end of June on whether the 400 bus route will continue to serve Harcourt Hill (or terminate at Seacourt Park and Ride) for a further 12 months beyond 30 August 2025.
As a result of the BROOKESbus contract ending, no new BROOKESkey and Inclusive Travel Passes will be issued.
Existing BROOKESkey and Inclusive Travel Passes due to expire at the end of August 2025 will remain valid to this point (or until their expiry date, if different).
By making this change the University believes that, due to falling usage and the move to bring all of our Oxford-based teaching together on our Headington Campus from September 2025, the money it currently invests in the BROOKESbus service will be used to better benefit more students.
Further information on these changes and the new discounted travel options can be found on this webpage and we’ll be adding more information in the coming weeks and months.
This includes a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) which we will also continue to keep updated.
If you can’t find an answer to your question, please contact us via the dedicated Google Form which has been set up.
Why have you decided to not renew the BROOKESbus contract from 1 July 2025? (Question added 22 May 2025)
The University believes that, due to falling usage, the money it currently invests in the BROOKESbus service could be used to better benefit more students
We will instead use this investment in a more targeted way to support those students who would benefit most from free or subsidised travel. This will also allow access to a wider range of Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel and Pulhams routes for students and staff, covering the majority of greater Oxford.
We know that a large number of students are not using the BROOKESbus and this number will fall even more from September 2025 when all of our Oxford-based teaching will be based at our Headington Campus.
Nearly a quarter of our students (22.5%) do not use the existing subsidised travel provided by the service, while half of all recipients used the pass on 30 or fewer occasions between September 2024 and March 2025, which equates to approximately one round journey per week during semester time.
The BROOKESbus service costs the University £1.2m a year. It is important that we invest in services which benefit our student community as a whole better.
This is a particularly important consideration given the financial challenges currently being experienced within the higher education sector and our duty to ensure financial sustainability, both as a recipient of public funds and in compliance with our charitable obligations.
How will this impact on students and staff using the BROOKESkey and the Inclusive Travel Pass for students? (Question added 22 May 2025)
The University will be introducing an alternative subsidised travel offer for staff and students, as detailed on this webpage.
The University will support students who are receiving bursary funding by providing free* or heavily subsidised CityZone bus passes, depending on how close they live to the Headington Campus.
The significantly subsidised new CityZone passes will be offered to all staff and students at the University, which will provide more comprehensive travel across Oxford for those who make frequent use of the bus.
As a result of the BROOKESbus contract ending, no new BROOKESkey or Inclusive Travel Passes will be issued. Existing BROOKESkey and Inclusive Travel Passes due to expire at the end of August 2025 will remain valid to this point (or until their expiry date, if different).
* Subject to an annual £10 admin fee. Prices quoted are for a single year and may be subject to inflationary increases for any future years of study.
Will the existing 400 and 100 bus services continue to operate after 1 July 2025? (Question added 22 May 2025)
Oxford Bus Company (OBC) has confirmed that both the 400 and 100 bus services, which formed the BROOKESbus routes, will continue to operate beyond 1 July 2025.
Local transport authorities are expected to make a decision by the end of June on whether the 400 bus route will continue to serve Harcourt Hill (or terminate at Seacourt Park and Ride) for a further 12 months beyond 30 August 2025.
Whatever the outcome of this decision, OBC’s existing 4A service will continue to provide a stop close to the Harcourt Hill site and runs to the city centre for onward travel to the Headington Campus.
Further information on the 4A bus service can be found on the Oxford Bus Company website.
What is the University going to do with the savings it makes from not continuing with the BROOKESbus contract? (Question added 22 May 2025)
Like many UK universities, Oxford Brookes is experiencing increasing financial challenges due to a range of external factors, such as inflation, increases in staff pay, National Insurance and employer pension contributions and flat student fees for UK undergraduates over a number of years. Importantly, the University has a duty to ensure its financial sustainability both as a recipient of public funds and in compliance with its charitable status.
The University will be investing significantly into the new, alternative bus subsidies being provided to students and staff with the remaining savings meaning we can continue to deliver an excellent experience for everyone who chooses to study at Oxford Brookes.
How does a CityZone pass differ from the Inclusive Travel Pass? (Question added 22 May 2025)
Students eligible for an Inclusive Travel Pass on their BROOKESkey account were only able to travel for free on the 400 and 100 BROOKESbuses during the day.
Any students using the CityZone pass will still be able to travel for free on the 400 and 100 services, but also on Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel and Pulhams services within the CityZone area. This area covers the majority of greater Oxford, to Kennington in the south, Cumnor to the west and Wheatley to the east, as well as Blackbird Leys, Wytham and Kidlington.
The CityZone pass also covers night bus services.
Stagecoach services are not included. Further information is available on the CityZone page on the Oxford Bus Company website.
How do I apply for my subsidised student CityZone pass? (Question added 22 May 2025)
The University is currently working with Oxford Bus Company to confirm how applications for CityZone passes will work. Further details will be added to this webpage in the coming weeks and months to clarify this process.
How can I find out if I'm eligible for a bursary? (Question added 22 May 2025)
If you are a new undergraduate student starting your course from September 2025, you can find details online of our bursary eligibility for new students webpage. If you are an existing undergraduate Oxford Brookes student continuing your course in September 2025, you can find details of our separate bursary eligibility for continuing students webpage.
How will the University measure the distance that students are living from Headington Campus during the academic year, as part of the eligibility for subsidised CityZone passes? (Question added 22 May 2025)
The University is currently working with Oxford Bus Company on the details of this new subsidised travel plan and how eligibility, such as distance from Headington Campus, will be implemented. Further information will be added to these webpages once this decision has been taken.
Will I still be able to get a discount on Oxford Bus Company buses by showing my student ID card to the driver? (Question added 22 May 2025)
Yes, a discount will still be provided. From 1 July 2025, this discount will allow travel for £1.80 by showing the driver your student ID card.
What additional discounts are available to students from Oxford Bus Company (OBC)? (Question added 22 May 2025)
In addition to the subsidised CityZone pass and the Brookes CityZone Single for £1.80 by showing the driver your Oxford Brookes Student ID, OBC’s range of Oxford Brookes discounted multi-journey products available exclusively on the Oxford Bus app are as follows:
- Brookes CityZone 12 Trip - £17.50
- Brookes CityZone & CountryZone 12 Trip - £30.00
- Brookes Heathrow Flexible Return - £29.00
- Brookes Gatwick Flexible Return - £35.00
Further information on these additional offers can be found on the Oxford Bus Company website.
What will happen to my existing BROOKESkey and Inclusive Travel Pass from 1 July 2025? (Question added 22 May 2025)
As a result of the BROOKESbus contract ending, no new BROOKESkey or Inclusive Travel Passes will be issued. Existing BROOKESkey and Inclusive Travel Passes due to expire at the end of August 2025 will remain valid to this point (or until their expiry date, if different).
I’m a returning student who has booked accommodation at Harcourt Hill for the 2025/26 academic year. How will I be able to travel to and from Harcourt Hill via bus from 1 July 2025 if the 400 stops serving the site? (Question added 22 May 2025)
Oxford Bus Company (OBC) has confirmed that both the 400 and 100 bus services, which formed the BROOKESbus routes, will continue to operate beyond 1 July 2025. Local transport authorities are expected to make a decision by the end of June on whether the 400 bus route will continue to serve Harcourt Hill (or terminate at Seacourt Park and Ride) for a further 12 months beyond 30 August 2025.
As an alternative to the 400, Oxford Bus Company’s 4A route has stops close to the Harcourt Hill site and the city centre (which would then allow for onward travel to the Headington Campus). The Elms Rise stop for the 4A service on Limes Road is 0.3 miles from the Westminster Hall at Harcourt Hill. This is approximately the same distance from Westminster Hall to the existing BROOKESbus stop near to the entrance of the Harcourt Hill site. You can find further information on the 4A bus service on the Oxford Bus Company website.
Will the subsidised annual CityZone pass be available for staff for the 2025/26 academic year? (Question added 22 May 2025)
Any member of staff will be able to purchase an annual CityZone pass costing £220* for bus travel for the 2025/26 academic year.
Without the subsidies being offered by the University, a CityZone pass for the year would cost approximately £700.
* Subject to an additional annual £10 admin fee. Prices quoted are for a single year and may be subject to inflationary increases for any future years of study.
As a member of staff, how do I apply for my subsidised CityZone pass? (Question added 22 May 2025)
The University is currently working with Oxford Bus Company to confirm how applications for CityZone passes will work. Further details will be added to this webpage in the coming weeks and months to clarify this process. OBC expects the subsidised CityZone passes to be available from the last week of June 2025.
Will I still be able to get a discount on Oxford Bus Company buses by showing my staff ID card to the driver? (Question added 22 May 2025)
Yes, a discount will still be provided. From 1 July 2025, this discount will allow travel for £1.80 by showing the driver your staff ID card.
What additional discounts are available to staff from Oxford Bus Company? (Question added 22 May 2025)
In addition to the subsidised CityZone pass and the Brookes CityZone Single for £1.80 by showing the driver your Oxford Brookes Staff ID, Oxford Bus Company’s range of Oxford Brookes discounted multi-journey products available exclusively on the Oxford Bus app will be as follows:
- Brookes CityZone 12 Trip - £17.50
- Brookes CityZone & CountryZone 12 Trip - £30.00
- Brookes Heathrow Flexible Return - £29.00
- Brookes Gatwick Flexible Return - £35.00
Further information on these additional offers can be found on the Oxford Bus Company website.
Am I still able to benefit from the semester or yearly BROOKESbus travel passes previously made available to Brookes staff? (Question added 22 May 2025)
No, this benefit will no longer be available to purchase as the BROOKESbus service will no longer be operating. However, existing passes of this type will continue to be honoured until their expiry date.
What will happen to the intersite bus passes previously available to staff from 1 July 2025? (Question added 22 May 2025)
Following the end of the BROOKESbus contract, and in accordance with all Oxford-based teaching being based at Headington Campus from the 2025/26 academic year, the intersite passes will no longer function.
Will the University still be able to advertise on screens on the Oxford Bus Company buses? (Question added 22 May 2025)
Yes, there will be an opportunity to advertise on bus screens, but this will no longer be a free service once the BROOKESbus contract expires.
How will this impact the use of buses at recruitment University activities such as Open Days? (Question added 22 May 2025)
This will not affect the Open Days taking place in June 2025 as they fall within the BROOKESbus contract period ending 30 June 2025. The University will consider how best to work with local providers to ensure suitable travel arrangements are in place for those attending recruitment activities after this point.