nsw uni travel card

NSW government offers $250 travel voucher to help students and apprentices

The NSW government is offering a $250 prepaid debit card to certain Aussies to help with the cost of travel amid worsening cost of living pressure. Find out if you’re eligible.

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A new $250 travel card for regional university students and apprentices will be trialled by the NSW government to help ease the cost of getting to school or work.

The prepaid $250 debit card can be used to pay for taxis, fuel, Opal card top ups, public transport, privately-operated coaches, and electric vehicle charging stations.

The program will be rolled out to apprentices who live in a regional location as part of a two-year trial with applications open from February 2023.

In April, Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the program will expand to regional university students.

“We’re investing in the tradies, teachers, and technicians of tomorrow,” he said.

“We know apprentices and university students in the bush often need to travel long distances for work or between training, classes and practical learning – and this is about easing that burden.

“It puts $250 in their pocket to help them cover the cost of filling up the tank or catching public transport to campus.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the program will be available to people between 16 and 66 years old.

“Whether you’re a 16-year-old mechanic apprentice or a 60-year-old university student studying teaching, if you live in the bush you may be eligible for the travel card,” Mr Farraway said.

“Putting more money back into the pockets of apprentices and uni students is one way the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is securing a brighter future for NSW families,” he said.

“We know supporting regional apprentices and university students through this initiative will make a difference.”

Eligibility requirements

– Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident

– Live in a regional location outside Greater Sydney and the Newcastle and Wollongong City Council boundaries

– Be between the ages of 16 and pension age (currently 66 and 6 months)

– Be undertaking an active apprenticeship or traineeship registered with Training Services NSW or an undergraduate university course.

– Courses must be full-time and face-to-face

– Be enrolled in an eligible campus (selected campuses are still being defined)

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Please See: We have upgraded security on the Regional Travel Card website by incorporating multi-factor authentication (MFA) effective from 25 January 2024. This will mean changes to the way you login. A mobile phone is required to complete MFA set up. If you don't have a mobile phone, please contact card services on 1800 569 070. All existing users of the website please click on Existing user journey guide and for new enrolment click on New enrolment journey guide to refer to the steps to complete MFA set up.

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Applications open NOW! $250 boost for regional apprentices and trainees

• Applications open NOW! $250 boost…

More than 50,000 regional apprentices and trainees can now apply for the NSW Nationals’ $250 Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card.

The initiative will help ease budget pressures for apprentices, trainees, and university students in the bush, covering the cost of fuel, taxis, and public transport.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the card was a win for apprentices and trainees hard at work in restaurants, childcare centres, and on farms and construction sites across regional NSW.

“It’s a $250 boost that will ease the cost of filling up the tank or catching transport to work or class for thousands of people working towards their future career,” Mr Toole said.

“This is not just an investment that is putting fuel in the tank of apprentices and trainees now. This is an investment that is fuelling the training of the workforce our regional businesses need for the future.

“Our Regional Seniors Travel Card has proven successful, delivering more than one million cards and injecting $196 million into regional economies since its launch in 2019, and we believe this card will be just as successful.”

Nationals’ Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said eligible apprentices and trainees who apply will receive a $250 prepaid debit card within weeks.

“The NSW Nationals want to get this $250 in the back pockets of our apprentices and trainees to help lower the costs of travel and boost their budgets,” Mr Farraway said.

“Last month we launched a pilot of the card in Dubbo which allowed us to fine-tune the application process ahead of today.

“Our Government has built a strong economy so we can roll out budget boosting initiatives just like this, supporting country people with the rising cost of living will keep our state moving.”

Luke Prentice, who was one of a group of apprentices and trainees who took part in a trial roll out of the card in Dubbo last month said he has already seen the benefits of the initiative.

“As part of the Dubbo trial I received my card in January which was perfect timing for me and my young family as the extra $250 help coming soon after Christmas was much appreciated,” Mr Prentice said.

“I have used my card to pay for fuel for my vehicle which I use to get to work and training as an apprentice electrician. With fuel prices high at present, among the other costs of living, the card is a welcome boost to our budget.”

Applications for university students will open from the end of April when enrolments are confirmed. Apprentices and trainees have until 30 November to apply for the 2023 card.

The initiative will run as a two-year trial until the end of 2024.

More details about eligibility and how to apply can be found at: www.service.nsw.gov.au/regional-apprentice-and-university-student-travel-card

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Travel concessions

As a student at the University you may be eligible to apply for a travel concession, giving you cheaper public transport fares.

Eligibility

Transport for NSW determine the eligibility for travel concessions .

Generally you are eligible if you are a:

• full-time enrolled student (18 credit points or more each semester)
• Australian citizen or permanent resident
• student with a NSW home address.

If you are enrolled in an exchange program where you pay your tuition fees to your home institution, you may also be eligible for a travel concession.

All other international students and New Zealand citizens are generally not eligible for transport concessions. Instead you’ll need to purchase an Adult Opal card for travel in the NSW Opal network.

In some circumstances, Australian Government scholarships entitle you to a transport concession. Find out if you’re eligible on the Transport for NSW website .

If you have a medical condition or disability which prevents you from being able to enrol in full time study, you may be eligible to  register with the University’s Inclusion and Disability Services , where approval for a transport concession can be reviewed. Please note that eligible students must be domestic and engaged in part-time study due to the impacts of their disability.

How to apply

During the enrolment task you will be asked to give consent for us to share your details with Transport for NSW. You will need to do this each time you re-enrol in your course.

You can also provide your consent at any time through Sydney Student (go to 'My details, 'Personal details').

Allow two business days for this information to reach Transport for NSW.

You’ll then need to apply for a Concession Opal card .

Once your eligibility is confirmed your Concession Opal card will be mailed to you within 5-7 working days.

When you have a Concession Opal card, you need to carry your student card with you as proof of your Concession Opal entitlement.

Apply for a Concession Opal Card

Have a question, am i eligible for travel concession if i'm enrolled part-time due to a disability.

If you are a domestic student who is enrolled part-time prevents you...

I have been advised that my Opal concession card will be blocked and need to check my eligibility

Check your eligibility for Concession Opal Card

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Regional trainee, apprentice travel pass under review after Labor finds $250 card comes with $900 price tag

A $250 state government travel card designed to ease the cost of living for apprentices and students in regional New South Wales has so far cost taxpayers $900 per card. 

Key points:

• A $250 student travel card could be scrapped in the September Budget
• The regional roads minister says each card has cost taxpayers $900
• The shadow regional roads minister says the government has obstructed the program

Regional roads minister Jenny Aitchison said the Regional Apprentice and University Student Card, which was a much-vaunted election promise by the Coalition , is up for review.

The pre-paid debit card comes loaded with $250 which can be spent on fuel, TrainLink services, public transport, taxis, and private coaches.

To date 6,118 people have signed up to the $98 million project.

Ms Aitchison said so far more than $5.5 million had been spent on the program, with around $1.5 million spent on allocation and another $4 million going towards implementation costs, bringing the average cost of each card to $903.08.

The cost of implementation includes banking account keeping fees, plastic, delivery and logistics, and the administrative costs involved in getting the cards working in service stations and public transport providers.

She said the money for the project came straight from the transport budget, meaning this was money that could otherwise be spent on road repairs.

"The state of our roads is a cost-of-living issue for many people in regional NSW in terms of lost productivity, damage to their vehicles and time off the road," Ms Aitchison said.

"Given the $7 billion budget black hole left by the former government and the massive backlog in road funding, it is appropriate that the NSW government fully review the operation of the program to ensure that it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds."

Additionally, Ms Aitchison said there was no mechanism to stop people from using the card to buy "Fanta and chockies" at service stations.

The minister has not ruled out axing the program.

Shadow regional roads minister Sam Farraway maintained the program was a "successful" cost-of-living measure that was now in danger of being slashed.

Mr Farraway said the government was obstructing the program by not allowing university students to sign up to it.

He said Ms Aitchison was engaging in "tricky accounting", since the average cost-per-person would go down the more people signed up to the program.

"I think that the state Labor government and Minister Aitchison is being very cute with the numbers," Mr Farraway said.

They are building the narrative to cancel this card and this program.

"I think this is a cruel approach from the new Minns Labor government towards our regional universities, our apprentices, our trainees."

The travel card was part of a two-year trial initially rolled out in Dubbo.

The card is currently open for apprentices but is still not available for university students.

The program was supposed to be open to university students in April this year, with the trial planned to run until the end of 2024.

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Transport concession

Opal concession eligibility.

As a Macquarie domestic student, you may be eligible for concession travel with Transport for NSW. Find out about the eligibility criteria and steps to follow to get a concession Opal card.

New students

If you are enrolled as a full-time, internal student at Macquarie University, you may be eligible for concession travel on public transport in NSW. To order a concession Opal card , follow the steps under 'Applying' below.

Continuing students

Continuing students need to submit a new declaration each year for your concession Opal card to remain active. Don't forget to go to AskMQ and submit your declaration form to allow us to share your eligibility/enrolment status details with Transport for NSW (TfNSW) for this year.

Eligibility

To check your eligibility, access the Transport for NSW (TfNSW) website or read their transport concession guidelines [PDF 236.8KB].

International tertiary students are generally not entitled to concession fares in NSW. To understand the eligibility requirements, international students can check the TfNSW tertiary students information.

Follow these simple steps to apply for your student concession Opal card. You should ensure you have your enrolment information handy when applying.

• Log in to AskMQ and fill out a declaration form to allow MQ to share your eligibility/enrolment status with TfNSW. Continuing students need to submit a declaration each calendar year.
• Wait 24 to 48 hours for the TfNSW Opal system to receive your declaration.
• Go to TfNSW Concession Opal Card and apply by either visiting opal.com.au or calling 13 67 25 (13 OPAL).

Your concession Opal card will arrive in the post within five to seven working days. You should then activate the new card before using it to travel.

If you have filled in the declaration and are having trouble applying, make sure you check your eligibility .

Verified your eligibility and still having problems? Check out our FAQs below to troubleshoot your situation.

Tertiary student proof of entitlement

• an Approved Form of Student ID Card (Macquarie's student campus card has been approved by TfNSW)
• a Transport Concession Entitlement Card

You must carry these cards when you travel. If you do not have your concession Opal card and proof of entitlement (your student campus card), you will need to pay for and travel with an adult fare or you may be fined.

Important information

To facilitate reforms to the NSW Tertiary Student Transport concession schemes, including the introduction of an electronic ticketing system (concession) under a new scheme agreed with Transport for NSW (TfNSW), the University is now responsible for verifying the eligibility of students to TfNSW.

Once your eligibility is confirmed by the University, the University is required to send your name, date of birth and University OneID directly to TfNSW. This enables TfNSW to process student applications for concession travel.

If you wish to apply for the concession, you must complete the application form at the TfNSW website.

Further information about the concession and the eligibility criteria for the concession can be accessed from the TfNSW website .

For undergraduate students at Macquarie University, full-time is considered to be 30 credit points or more per session.

For postgraduate students at Macquarie University, this varies according to your degree. Contact Service Connect to check if you are considered full-time.

Consent to disclosure of your personal information

So that the University can send your name, date of birth and University OneID to TfNSW for the purpose of providing of tertiary student concession travel to you, we require you to read and consent to the Privacy Notice and Declaration and agree to the sharing this information with TfNSW using this online form .

Information regarding how your information will be used and disclosed by TfNSW is set out in the Privacy Notice and Declaration.

For more information about TfNSW's privacy and information handling practices, please go TfNSW Privacy Statement .

For more information about the privacy and information handling practices related to the ordering and use of the Opal Card in particular, please see the Opal Privacy Policy .

Opposing your enrolment information being sent to TfNSW

If you do not want your eligibility/enrolment status information to be shared with TfNSW, then you are not required to provide your consent to the Privacy Notice and Declaration.

If you do not provide your consent, your eligibility status will not be disclosed to TfNSW. However, if the University does not disclose your eligibility information to TfNSW, you will be unable to apply for a concession Opal card through the online application process at the TfNSW website (see link above).

Troubleshooting

The below checklist of questions may help you understand any issues with your Opal Concession.

Am I a domestic student?

You must be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident to be eligible for Concession. You also need to reside in NSW.

Am I enrolled in a full-time, internal study load?

You must be enrolled into a minimum of 30 credit points for the first (Session 1/Winter Vacation) or second half of the year (Session 2/Session 3) in internal mode.

Have I submitted the Transport Declaration Form?

A Transport Declaration form must be submitted on AskMQ for each year you wish to receive Concession. Ensure you have submitted a Declaration form for the current year.

I received an email from Opal saying my card will be blocked

First, ensure you have submitted the Declaration form for the year. If you have recently withdrawn from any units, check to see that you are enrolled in the minimum number of internal units for Concession.

I have changed degrees this year

If so, you will need to resubmit the Transport Declaration form on AskMQ.

I am an eligible HDRO or Macquarie University College student

If so, you may require an eligibility override from Service Connect. If you meet the eligibility requirements and are experiencing issues when ordering a Concession Opal Card, please contact Service Connect for assistance.

I may be eligible due to a Scholarship, Special Consideration, or other circumstances

Do my details match my macquarie details.

When applying for the card on the Opal website, ensure all your details match your Macquarie details, including your student email address.

Has my card been blocked by Opal?

If so, you will need to request a new Concession card from Transport for NSW. Ensure you have submitted the Transport Declaration form and still meet the eligibility requirements.

I am a new student – when can I order a concession opal card?

Transport for NSW usually accepts applications for Concession Opal Cards no earlier than two weeks prior to the start of session.

I received an email from Transport NSW advising my concession Opal card will be blocked in two weeks and suggests I need to speak with the university to confirm full time enrolment status.

If you have not already done so for the current calendar year, please submit a  Transport Concession Declaration form via AskMQ . Without submitting this form we are unable to share your eligibility details with Transport for NSW due to privacy legislation. Submitting this form gives us consent to share your enrolment status information.

You need to submit the Transport Concession Declaration form at the start of every year.

You also need to ensure you continue to meet the eligibility requirements set by Transport for NSW.

I have recently been granted Permanent Residency, can I apply for a Concession Opal Card part way through a study period, or do I need to wait until the start of the next study period?

You do not need to wait until the start of the next study period to apply for a Concession Opal Card, however you need to ensure you meet the eligibility requirements.

You will have to update your Residency Status before you order a Concession Opal Card – follow the “Change of residency” information on this  fees information page .

More information about ordering a Concession Opal Card can be found on our transport concession webpage.

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Visit Transport for NSW to order your concession card.

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Travel Concessions with Opal Card

What is it?

The Concession Opal card allows eligible students to access fares at half the price of the Adult Opal card for travel on transport services including:

• All Sydney Trains
• All NSW TrainLink Intercity services
• All buses in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hunter and Illawarra
• All Sydney Ferries and the Stockton Ferry in Newcastle

Please note: You must carry your UNSW student ID card at all times as proof of identity when travelling on your Concession Opal card.

Am I eligible?

According to Transport for NSW you're eligible to apply for a Concession Opal card if you are:

• Australian Citizen or Australian Permanent Resident
• Residing in New South Wales
• Full-time student enrolled on an internal basis (except where a person by reason of disability is enrolled on a part-time basis and/or on an external basis). The standard full-time enrolment load at UNSW is a minimum of 12 units of credit (UOC) per term.
• Students wishing to be considered full-time in the UNSW3+ Academic Calendar will need to enrol in a minimum of 12 Units of Credit (UOC) each term, or 36 UOC across Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3 with at least one course enrolment in each term.

Travelling outside the Opal network?

The Transport Concession Entitlement Card  allows eligible students to prove their eligibility to travel on a concession fare outside the Opal network including:

• Many rural and regional buses 
• NSW TrainLink Regional services

For more information and contact details visit transportnsw.info/tertiary-students .

Note on eligibility for:

If you are an International student you are not eligible for a concession unless you are in receipt of an approved Australian Government scholarship and enrolled full time.

The Australian Government Scholarships program, comprising of:

• The Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships, funded by the Department of Education and training for full research scholarships
• The Endeavour Postgraduate Scholarships and Vocational Education and Training
• The Australian Awards (two scholarship streams) funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for full scholarships

Students undertaking cross-institutional studies

If you are a UNSW student undertaking cross institutional studies and your combined study load is equivalent to a full time study load you may be eligible for a concession. Please bring proof of your cross institutional enrolment to The Nucleus: Student Hub .

Students with a disability

If you are a student with a disability, studying part time, and you are registered with Disability Services you may be eligible for a concession. Please discuss this with your Disability Advisor .

How to apply

You will be required to give your consent for UNSW to provide details of your eligibility to Transport for NSW before you can apply for your Concession Opal card. Eligible students can provide their consent through myUNSW

Eligible students travelling outside the Opal zone will also need to will also need to to apply for a  Transport Concession Entitlement Card  to prove your eligibility to travel on a concession fare. 

Please allow 2 business days for your information to reach Transport for NSW, you can then apply for your Concession Opal card by visiting opal.com.au or calling 13 67 25 (13 OPAL).

Ensure that you have your student enrolment information to hand when applying and please enter your details, especially your name, exactly as they appear on your UNSW record.

Your card will be posted to your mailing address (5-7 days after your application is completed).

You will need to activate your card when it arrives.

Answers to FAQs

I lost my card, what should i do.

If you lose your Concession Opal card, please contact Opal directly on 13 67 25 (13 OPAL).

Will variation of full-time enrolment status affect eligibility?

Variations in your study load from part-time to full-time and vice versa which will affect your Concession Opal eligibility.

UNSW3+ Academic Calendar: If your study load in a single term drops from full time (12-18 UoC) to part time (less than 12 UoC) AND  you aren't enrolled in at least 36 UoC across Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3, you will no longer be eligible for the Concession Opal Card and your card will be cancelled. If you don't have an enrolment in a Term, you are not eligible for the Concession Opal Card in that Term.

UNSW Canberra ADFA Academic Calendar: If your study load in a semester drops from full time (18-24 UoC) to part time (less than 18 UoC) you will no longer be eligible for the Concession Opal Card and your card will be cancelled. 

My card has been cancelled, what should I do?

If your Concession Opal Card is cancelled you will need to apply for another Concession Opal card through the Opal website .

If you have any money left on your cancelled (invalid) card, you will then need to organise to have the  balance transferred to your new card.

You cannot reactivate a cancelled (invalid) Concession Opal card.

Should I apply for a new card if I've transferred from another institution?

If you have transferred to UNSW from another institution you will need to apply for a new Concession Opal card in the normal manner (see above). The Concession Opal card from your previous institution will be cancelled.

I can't apply for an Opal Concession card. What should I do?

Are you receiving an error message on the Opal website like ‘Your details do not match, please contact your Education Provider’?

This error usually occurs because the date of birth and name that you have input on the Opal website does not match the records UNSW has for you. The name you provide in your opal application must match your formal name on myUNSW exactly.

Click here to see your details on myUNSW then re-enter your details on the Opal website exactly as they appear on your myUNSW record.

Make sure to input your student ID number and set your Enrolment type to ‘Tertiary Student’ and Institution Name to ‘UNSW Australia’.

If you are still unable to apply, please contact The Nucleus: Student Hub .

Where to get help

If you are unsure about your enrolment status or want to confirm that you have opted in correctly to share your information, then  The Nucleus: Student Hub  can help.

If you have any other questions

If you have any other questions regarding the Concession Opal card then you will need to contact Opal directly although you may want to check out the Tickets and Opal page  first.

Term 1, 2024 - Exam Period (T1) 26 Apr – 9 May 2024

Term 1, 2024 - Release of Results 16 May 2024, 12:00pm

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Student travel concessions

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Announcement Portlet

Student services - student travel concessions.

The NSW Government provides subsidised or concession travel to a range of people. As a TAFE NSW student you may be entitled to concession or free travel on public or private transport (conditions apply).

Long distance travel concessions for apprentices and trainees

The Vocational Training Assistance Scheme (VTAS) provides concessions to some apprentices and trainees to attend training.

VTAS may be available to apprentices and trainees who:

• Live in NSW.
• Travel more than 120 km (round trip) to attend off-the-job training.

Please see Travel, Accommodation and Relocation assistance for more details or you can contact Training Services NSW on on 13 28 11 for more information.

TAFE Digital students

Full-time TAFE Digital students studying a secondary school equivalent course may be eligible for a travel concession card.

International students

International students are not entitled to travel concessions. International students may access MyMulti discounted tickets. Visit International student travel discount on the Transport for NSW website for more information.

For further information, talk to a customer service officer at your local campus .

Transport concession entitlement card

• Ex-defence personnel with a disability
• Job seekers and approved Centrelink customers
• Tertiary and TAFE students
• Apprentices and trainees
• Asylum seekers
• Change address and contact details on a transport concession entitlement card
• Change your pensioner or concession details on maritime products
• Job seekers and other approved Centrelink customers

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Apply for a school travel pass or School Opal card

School travel passes can be used for free travel to and from school or TAFE. Depending on where you are travelling, you may receive a free school travel pass, School Opal card or both.

If you have had applied for a student travel pass before you will need a different page:

• If your pass has expired or your details or travel requirements have changed, go to re-apply or update details on a current pass .
• If your application was unsuccessful, find out about requesting a review .
• If your card is damaged, lost or stolen, go to replace a damaged, lost or stolen pass .

Things to know before applying

Applications for next year open at the start of Term 4 this year.

You can apply for free school travel for different modes of transport including train, bus, ferry and light rail using the online form.

You only need to apply:

• if applying for a school travel pass for the first time.
• if requesting an extra pass due to parents living separately.

The student must:

• be a resident of NSW, or an overseas student eligible for free government education.
• be aged 4 years 6 months or older. Pre-school children are not eligible.
• live a minimum distance from your school. The minimum distance varies according to the year or grade the student is enrolled in that calendar year.

Who can get a school travel pass

Kindergarten to year 2 (infants).

• There is no minimum walking distance for these students.

Year 3 to Year 6

• The straight line distance from the student's home address to school is more than 1.6km.
• The walking distance from home to school is 2.3km or further.

Year 7 to Year 12

• The straight line distance from the student's home address to school is more than 2km, or
• The walking distance from home to school is 2.9km or further.

TAFE students

• They are under 18 years of age at 1 January of the year of application.
• They are enrolled in a full-time TAFE course for a minimum of 16 hours per week.
• They are not employed.
• The walking distance from home to TAFE is 3.2km or further.
• They attend the closest TAFE where enrolment is available.

Who can’t get it

Free school travel is available to students who live outside of the following distances from their school. If you live within these distances, the student may still qualify for a School Term Bus Pass .

Before you start the online form

• Confirm the mode of transport and the transport operators the student will need for travel between home and school.

Completing the form

• The form needs to be completed in one session, you will not be able to save a partly completed form.
• You will need a valid email address.
• Note down your N or UN number.
• Applications must be made by a parent or legal guardian if the student is under 16 years of age.
• The student needs to complete and submit the application form if they are 16 years or older.

Apply for a school travel pass

Paper forms

If you don't have access to the internet, you can download and print a paper application form (pdf 1.7MB) . Once the paper form is completed and signed, please hand the form to the student's school or TAFE for validation.

Things to know after applying

• After you have submitted your application, the student's school needs to verify it.
• Transport for NSW will process the application, which may take several weeks.
• You will be informed of the outcome of your application by email.
• You’ll be able to track the status of the application .
• If the application is unsuccessful, you can request a review. Find out more about unsuccessful applications .
• See the full terms and conditions for school travel passes and School Opal cards.

What a school travel pass will look like

School Opal Card

School Opal cards are issued by Transport for NSW for free school travel or as a School Term Bus Pass inside Sydney and surrounds. School Opal cards can be accepted on metro, train, bus, ferry and light rail services.

Rural and regional students

School Travel Pass

Free school travel passes and School Term Bus Passes are issued by operators to students travelling on buses in rural and regional areas. Some operators in rural and regional areas may choose not to issue passes to students. Please contact the operator directly to find out when and where the student pass will be sent.

Using your school travel pass or School Opal card

The School Opal card is only valid for use between home and school on the transport operators specified in your original application. If you try to use your School Opal card for unapproved travel the Opal card reader will show an error message .

For personal travel, children aged 16 years and under should use a Child/Youth Opal card .

• Directories

Travel concessions

You may be eligible for student transport concessions.

Full-time students holding a valid ANU student card can receive a concession fare on ACTION buses within the ACT.

Full-time domestic students residing permanently in NSW and routinely commuting to ANU may be eligible to receive a NSW Transport concession. Students are considered to meet this criterion if they habitually sleep at and return to a residence within NSW on days when they are attending classes.

Students who believe they qualify for a NSW Transport Concessions should provide Student Central with proof of residency (mail or rental agreement with the address listed). Proof of commute (E-toll receipts, public transport tickets) may also be required. 

Transport NSW Opal Card - Tertiary Students Grace Period Ends 31 March 2021

From 17 March, students will be notified that their Concession Opal Card will stop working in two weeks (31 March) if you have;

• have finished your tertiary program/course,
• enrolled in a new tertiary institution, or
• changed your course load below minimum requirements for full-time study.

You can contact Transport NSW through their Fares, concessions & tickets feedback webpage.

Unfortunately, ANU students are not eligible for the OPAL travel concession in Sydney as ANU students cannot meet the eligibility criteria as set out by Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW).  Further information about eligibility can be found on the TfNSW website .

Related websites

• ACTION buses: Concession travel
• 135 ANU (135 268)