The University of Stirling says its campus is a 45-minute drive from Edinburgh Airport and about an hour from Glasgow Airport. By public transport, allow roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes, usually combining a coach, bus or tram with a train to Stirling and a local bus to campus. The university doesn't run an airport collection service itself, so plan the last leg before you fly.
Where the campus is
The campus sits on the Airthrey estate, around Airthrey Loch, about two miles from Stirling city centre and right beside Bridge of Allan. The postcode is FK9 4LA.
The nearest stations are Stirling, about a 40-minute walk away, and Bridge of Allan, about 30 minutes on foot. The university suggests finishing from Stirling station if you are taking a bus or taxi, and from Bridge of Allan if you are walking or cycling. With suitcases, a bus or car is the realistic choice.
From Edinburgh Airport
Citylink 909 coach. Coaches leave from Stop D and take about an hour to Stirling bus station. A few coaches a day continue to stops at the university, so check the timetable for your arrival day. One large case or rucksack of up to 20kg and one small bag travel free.
Tram and train. The tram stop is right outside the terminal. Take the tram to Edinburgh Park Station, which takes about 15 minutes, then a train to Stirling, which takes about 40 minutes. From Stirling, take a local bus to campus.
From Glasgow Airport
Take the Glasgow Airport Express 500 bus from stance 1 into the city centre and get off near Queen Street station. The 500 runs 24 hours a day, as often as every 10 minutes. Trains from Glasgow Queen Street to Stirling take around 30 minutes, and then it is a local bus to campus.
The last few miles: Stirling to campus
The Unilink bus runs between Stirling city centre, the railway station and the campus, and the university describes it as one of the most regular services. Most buses to campus leave from just outside Stirling railway station or from Murray Place, a two-minute walk away. A night bus also serves the campus. Check the operator, Midland Bluebird, for current times and fares.
Your options compared
| Option | Cost | Typical time to campus | Changes | With luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh Airport: Citylink 909 coach | Low | About 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes | None, or one local bus from Stirling | Good: one large case included |
| Edinburgh Airport: tram, train and bus | Low | About 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes | Two | Manageable with one case |
| Glasgow Airport: 500 bus, train and bus | Low | About 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes | Two | Manageable with one case |
| Either airport: pre-booked car | Highest | About 45 minutes from Edinburgh, about 1 hour from Glasgow | None | Easiest: door to door |
Public transport times are Google Maps estimates checked in September 2026 and don't include time spent at the airport. Car times are the university's own figures. Timetables change, so check them before you travel.
Booking a car for a student
The university's airport collection page points students to a pre-bookable taxi service run by an external local company. It makes clear that the university doesn't provide the service and that there is a charge.
If you are a parent booking from abroad, you can arrange a car in advance and include the flight number, so the student isn't sorting out transport after a long flight. The details are on the page for University of Stirling airport transfers, and fixed fares are listed on the My Airport Transfers prices page. For questions about arrival times or luggage, contact My Airport Transfers.
Arrival checklist
- Documents in your hand luggage. The university asks international students to carry paper copies, not just copies on a phone, of their passport, visa or immigration documents, course information, accommodation paperwork, CAS number and letter, and recent bank statements. You could be asked for them at the UK border.
- Your accommodation arrival slot. In university accommodation, you choose a move-in date and time through your Accommodation Dashboard, then receive paperwork showing where to collect your keys. Plan your flight and transfer around that slot. For the September 2026 intake, the university lists 17 September as move-in day for postgraduate students.
- A way to get online. Set up roaming, an eSIM or a UK SIM so you can check train times and messages as soon as you land.
- Money that works in the UK. Check with your card provider that your card will work here, carry a little cash in pounds as a backup, and budget extra for the first few days. The university notes that opening a UK bank account takes a few days.
- Labelled luggage. Label every bag with your full name and the University of Stirling's name and address.
- Routes via Dublin. Read the university's travel page first. There is no routine passport control between Dublin and the UK, which can cause problems activating a Student visa.
- Somewhere for family to stay. If someone is travelling with you, book their accommodation early. The university warns it is hard to find in the days before semester starts.
- First-night basics. There is a small Nisa supermarket in Campus Central.
Sources
- University of Stirling: Travel information for international students
- University of Stirling: Airport collection
- University of Stirling: Getting here
- University of Stirling: Before you arrive
- University of Stirling: Moving in
- University of Stirling: Welcome information for international students
- University of Stirling: The loch
- Edinburgh Airport: Stirling bus links
- Citylink: Edinburgh, Edinburgh Airport, Stirling and Dunblane
- Edinburgh Airport: By tram
- Edinburgh Trams: Timetables
- Glasgow Airport: Glasgow Airport Express Service 500
- ScotRail: Stirling station and timetables
- Google Maps: public transport routes to the University of Stirling, checked 15 September 2026