Studying abroad for a semester or your whole degree can be an exciting and complicated experience. Here is a list of things international students should know to make living in Scotland easier: including discounts and how to settle in better.
Free bus travel
If you have a Scottish address and are younger than 22, you may be eligible for a National Entitlement Card (NEC), which grants you free bus travel. You can apply here by filling out a form. However, the card can take a few weeks to arrive. In the meantime, when buying a bus ticket ask for a student single or return and show your student ID. It can be found on your university app or a physical card.
An NEC can also get you into Stirling Castle for £1.
And when you turn 22, your NEC can still be used for discounts in supermarkets and some shops. The Co-Op in Causewayhead for example offers discounts for card holders.
Bus routes
While in Stirling, most bus services you will use are with Midland Bluebird. To track buses and book tickets you should download the free app on the Play Store or the App Store. You need WiFi or mobile data to use it.
The UniLink, or UL, takes you from the city centre to the campus and back. The 54 bus also goes to the Uni, as well as Cornton and Bridge of Allan.
Trains
For train travel across the UK, you should get a railcard, which saves 1/3 on train travel. They come in physical cards or on the Railcard app. And you can get them for a year and some for three years. You can learn more here about which railcard you should get and how much it will cost.
Bank accounts
If you are over 18, living in the UK and have a valid passport you can get a UK bank account. The bank might ask for other forms of identity to set up your account, but it should mostly be a smooth process. There are branches for Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland and Nationwide in Stirling to apply in person, or you can apply online. You should download your bank’s app as well to check your balance, transfer money and check messages from your bank.
Water
Scottish tap water is perfectly safe to drink, and the best in the UK, so there is no need to buy bottled water for cooking or drinking. Drinking tap water saves you money and plastic. There is a tap next to the microwave at Scran on campus to fill up your water bottle with cold or warm water.
Tesco Clubcard
Stirling has many supermarkets like LIDL, Sainsbury’s and the Co-op. However, Tesco is easy to get to on bus routes and offers clothes and homeware as well as food and cleaning products. With a Clubcard you can collect points to turn into vouchers and coupons, and buy selected items for reduced prices. Like the other cards mentioned, Clubcards can be digital or physical. You can apply for one on the Tesco mobile app.
eSIM cards
When travelling to any country for whatever reason looking into eSIM cards is a must. You can buy these directly from network providers like Vodafone and EE. To keep your previous number eSIMs are the best way to go. You can also digitally switch between different SIM cards with an eSIM.
Adapters
Be sure to get UK adapters for your devices. You can buy these at the airport, in shops and online. Or, you could buy chargers and other cables from supermarkets which will have a UK plug, no adapter needed.
Societies
Stirling has many societies for students to join and meet new people. For example, photography, wine and wildlife conservation. You can also join country-based societies to meet people from all over the world. There’s the:
African and Caribbean Society,
Chinese Culture Board Game Club (CCC),
Language Exchange Society, (including BSL),
Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Society,
Explore
And finally, getting out there and exploring the world around you will help you settle in to your new home. Walking around aimlessly by yourself or going to the high street with friends helps you navigate and discover places you want to go. Stirling is a historic and lively place settled in the centre of Scotland, connecting you to a lush and varied country.
Featured image credit: Brig Newspaper
Third year journalism student. 2025/2026 Lifestyle and Comment Editor at Brig. Published in The Yucatán Times, Mi Campeche and The Mourning Paper. Host of From the 40s with Air3Radio.
