Open Letter: Unibus Charges and the Impact on Disabled Students

We are writing to raise serious concerns about the University’s decision to introduce fares for the Unibus service from 1 August 2025. While presented as a matter of financial and environmental sustainability, this policy will disproportionately affect disabled students, pregnant and post-partum students, and others for whom the Unibus is not a convenience but a necessity.

The Unibus is not an optional extra. According to the University’s own figures, up to 780,000 journeys were made annually before the pandemic. Many students rely on the service to access education, and for some – particularly those of us with mobility issues, fatigue, or sensory conditions – it is the only viable way to travel between campuses. The claim that all sites are within a 30-minute walk disregards the needs of those for whom walking long distances is unsafe, painful, or simply not feasible.

The financial impact of this change is not insignificant. A term pass will cost £140, and an annual pass £300. These figures sit against a backdrop of disproportionate financial pressure on disabled students. According to Scope, disabled people face an average of £1,010 in extra monthly costs. Many of us also face delays or barriers to receiving benefits such as PIP. Disabled international students are excluded from these systems entirely.

Likewise, although socioeconomic status is not a protected characteristic under the Equality Act, the University describes itself as an anchor institution for social mobility – yet this policy risks excluding students from working-class or low-income backgrounds for whom travel costs are a barrier.

Referring us to external support schemes such as DSA or the hardship fund is not a solution. DSA rarely covers transport costs without specialist evidence. The DSF is discretionary and limited. International students cannot access any of these. These are not structural mitigations. They are case-by-case exceptions that shift the burden of accessibility from the institution to the individual.

We are also concerned by the process. The Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) provided to students is incomplete. It is undated aside from the vague label ‘April 25’, lacks sign-off from the Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing team, and includes language indicating the review will take place after implementation. This falls short of the University’s legal responsibilities under the Public Sector Equality Duty, which requires that equality impact be considered before policy is enacted.

We recognise the significant financial pressure currently facing the higher education sector, and understand that the University may need to explore new income streams. However, this should not come at the expense of access or equity for those most affected by structural disadvantage.

The justification that this aligns Derby with other institutions, or encourages active travel, fails to account for unequal impact. Policies that apply to everyone in theory, but exclude people in practice, are not equitable. They are discriminatory.

We therefore call for:

1. Immediate reconsideration of the policy in light of its likely discriminatory impact.
2. A finalised and signed-off Equality Impact Assessment, made available before implementation.
3. A clear plan to mitigate impact on disabled, pregnant, and affected students – including free or subsidised transport – as DSA rarely covers public transport and PIP is increasingly inaccessible due to restrictive criteria and ongoing welfare reform.
4. Increased ringfenced resources for Student Services to support access needs without requiring students to first be rejected by external systems.
5. Ongoing consultation with the Independent Disabled Students Network on any policy changes that affect access to education.

This is not just about fares. It is about access, dignity, and the University's responsibility to ensure no student is excluded from participation.