How much is public transport in Australia? If you’re an international student studying in Australia, then you’ve likely typed this into Google at least once or twice.
And although public transport is usually the cheaper option when compared to paying for petrol or car maintenance fees, it can still make a dent in your budget.
Thankfully, most Australian states and territories offer some form of student discount, but the rules do vary depending on where you live and what you’re studying.
Here’s what international students need to know about discounted public transport.
New South Wales (NSW)
International students in NSW are generally not eligible for the standard concession fares offered to domestic students. However, if you are studying on an eligible scholarship, you might be in luck! If not, it’s still worth noting that Sydney’s Opal system includes daily and weekly fare caps, as well as discounted off-peak travel, all things that can lessen the impact of travel on your budget.
Victoria
Victoria is one of the few states that offers a dedicated concession to international students travelling on public transport. Eligible undergrad students can apply for the International Student Travel Pass, which provides discounted travel through Melbourne’s myki system.
Unfortunately, post-grad students (both international and domestic) are exempt from applying for discounted travel. A current petition before the Parliament of Victoria states that ‘Victoria is the only state in Australia that denies concession public transport entitlements to full-time graduate students’ and highlights the financial pressure many post-grad students continue to face while balancing tuition fees, unpaid placements and cost of living. The petition calls for the Victorian government to immediately extend concession public transport entitlements to all full-time graduate students, which would include international students.
You can add your signature to the petition here.
Queensland (QLD)
QLD now has a statewide 50-cent public transport fare scheme across all of its Translink services, including regional and urban buses, trains (excluding Airtrain), ferries, trams and on-demand services in South East Queensland.
For international students, this means there is no need to apply for a separate student concession card to access cheaper travel.
Western Australia (WA)
All students who are studying full time at an approved WA university or TAFE are eligible to apply for a Tertiary SmartRider card. There’s no distinction made between domestic or international students; however, the concession does exclude students only studying part time, via distance education or who are only visiting from overseas and not enrolled in a WA institution.
South Australia (SA)
Discounted travel is available for all full-time, on-campus students studying at an approved SA university or TAFE, and includes buses, trains and trams running in the city and outer suburbs of Adelaide. Concession fares will save you approximately 50% per fare.
Tasmania
Tasmania offers discounted travel of around 50% on its bus and ferry networks for all eligible tertiary students over the age of 19, enrolled at a Tasmanian senior secondary college (Year 11–12), TasTAFE, any university or the Tasmanian College of English.
Northern Territory (NT)
All bus services in Greater Darwin and Alice Springs are free with no eligibility criteria. There is no need to apply for a separate student concession card to access cheaper travel.
ACT
All students studying at an Australian institution are eligible for discounted travel in the ACT, but must remember to carry a valid student ID card when travelling. Concession fares can be accessed through the MyWay+ account, or through a MyWay+ retail outlet.
