A random access method and apparatus for supporting multiple TTIs and a communications system. The random access method includes: transmitting a preamble for requesting random access by a UE to a base station via a first message; a TTI type of the UE is indicated by the first message; and receiving by the UE a random access response transmitted by the base station via a second message; different TTI types correspond to different random access responses. Hence, latency of a random access procedure of a UE having a short TTI may be greatly lowered.