Student Travel Club - mTickets

Last updated: 10/11/2026

You have purchased a Student Travel Club mTicket - how does it work?

  • Plan your journey ahead of time. You can find our network maps here and timetables here.
  • When you board the bus - you will see the ticket machine directly in front of you. 
  • Place or "tap" the card on the ticket reader.
  • Wait for the "beep" - this notifies the driver that your ticket is valid for travel.
  • Away you "go" - either take a seat or please stand and hold onto the available grab handles/poles.

Frequently asked questions:

When can I travel with my mTicket?

Academic Year 2026-2027:

  1. Autumn term: 1st September 2026 to 31st December 2026
  2. Spring term: 1st January 2027 to 31st March 2027
  3. Summer term: 1st April 2027 to 31st July 2027

Where can I travel with my travel card?

Your mTicket will permit use on all First Essex Buses within a specified travel zone or route (unless otherwise stated).

Plan your journey

Require a map? You can find our network maps here.

Where do I scan my mTicket?

You will see the ticket machine directly in front of you when boarding the bus. It will look something like this ->

Artistic illustation of Ticketer machine.

Do I "tap" getting off the bus?

There is no need to "tap off". Only one tap (and beep) is required when boarding the bus.

Do I need to "top-up" my STC mTicket?

No - the mTicket arrives with a start and end date. No top-up required.

Do I need to activate my STC mTicket?

No - the mTicket will automatically activate on the first day of your ticket's validity - 

  1. Autumn term: 1st September 2026 to 31st December 2026
  2. Spring term: 1st January 2027 to 31st March 2027
  3. Summer term: 1st April 2027 to 31st July 2027

Do I need a photo-card?

No - a photo-card is not required.

Why has my mTicket been declined?

Below are some of the more common reasons why a travel card transaction may have failed:

  • Incorrect usage - if the mTicket is scanned outside the ticket's validity the card reader will not authorise the transaction and the driver will be notified that the ticket has been declined.
  • Multiple devices detected - if more than one card/device is detected by the reader at one time the transaction will be rejected and the driver will be notified that the ticket has been declined. This is not a problem - take a moment - and then present the travel card to the reader once again.

Unfortunately, our drivers will not always be able to explain why a mTicket transaction has failed. If a passenger attempts to travel without valid means of travel they will be asked to pay the prevailing on-bus fare.

Can somebody else use my travel card?

No - the mTicket is to be used by the ticket holder only.

As the mTicket is loaded with a student ticket you might be asked to prove your entitlement. Misuse of the ticket may result in one or all of the following: ticket cancellation, withdrawal of travel or/and not eligible for a refund.

Our Revenue Protection Officers board our services frequently and may ask to view a passenger’s ticket – if the ticket holder is unable to present their ticket - they could be issued with a £50.00 standard fare charge. For further information please visit our Revenue Protection Officer FAQs webpage: Our Revenue Protection Officers | First Bus

To view the full First Bus Conditions of Travel, please visit: Conditions of travel | First Bus

I left something on the bus - who do I contact?

If you leave an item on the bus, take care when returning to the bus (as the driver may be pulling away). If the bus has already left - please submit a lost property report to log the missing item.

The lost property form can be found here: Lost Property | First Bus

Getting in touch:

We want you to get help as quickly as possible. Our FAQs cover most common questions - if you can't find what you're looking for, our Customer Service Team is here to help.

Phone: 03456 460 707 (Available Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)

Help & Support: Help and support | First Bus