Student transit cards abroad — Oyster, Opal, Presto and more for Indian students
By Arjun Kapoor (Sneha Reddy is a returned-student travel blogger who documented her own journey from Hyderabad to Melbourne and back. She covers packing, first-week logistics, part-time work rules and the practical side of being an Indian student abroad, drawing on five years of lived experience across Australia and Germany.) · Published · 9 min read
Public transport is a daily expense for students abroad. Here is how Indian students can access discounted transit cards in major study cities.
Quick answer
Most major study-abroad cities offer discounted transit passes for students. London: 18+ Student Oyster card (30% off Travelcards and Bus & Tram passes). Sydney: Opal card with no special student discount (concession fares available for some visa categories — check Transport NSW). Toronto: PRESTO card with TTC post-secondary monthly pass discount. Berlin: Semesterticket included in your university enrolment fee (covers all Berlin public transport). Singapore: EZ-Link or SimplyGo with student concession for full-time students. Apply within your first week — it saves hundreds of dollars per semester.
London — 18+ Student Oyster card
The 18+ Student Oyster card gives 30% off Travelcards (weekly, monthly or annual) and Bus & Tram season tickets on Transport for London (TfL) services. It is available to full-time students at London universities participating in the scheme. Application is online through the TfL website with verification from your university — the process takes 2-4 weeks, so apply as soon as you enrol.
Until your Student Oyster arrives, buy a regular Oyster card from any Tube station (GBP 7 deposit, refundable) and use pay-as-you-go. Pay-as-you-go is capped daily and weekly, so you will not overpay dramatically while waiting for your student card.
Cost impact: a Zone 1-2 monthly Travelcard costs approximately GBP 150 at full price. With the 30% student discount, it drops to approximately GBP 105. Over an academic year, the saving is approximately GBP 400-500. If your university is outside Zone 1-2, the saving is proportionally larger because higher-zone passes cost more. Fly into London via our Delhi to London route.
Sydney — Opal card and concession fares
Sydney uses the Opal card for all public transport (trains, buses, ferries, light rail). There is no universal student Opal discount — concession fares (approximately 50% off adult fares) are available to Australian citizens and permanent residents with a valid student concession card. International students on subclass 500 visas generally pay the adult fare, though some state-level arrangements may apply — check the Transport NSW website for current eligibility.
Despite the lack of a student discount, the Opal system has built-in caps: after 8 paid trips per week, all further travel is free. On Sundays, the daily cap drops to AUD 2.80. These caps effectively provide a discount for regular commuters.
Pro tip: set up an Opal card linked to your bank account or credit card (contactless payment also works on Sydney transport) within your first day. The AUD 2.80 Sunday cap makes Sunday a great day for exploring Sydney cheaply.
Toronto — PRESTO and TTC student pass
Toronto uses the PRESTO card for TTC (Toronto Transit Commission), GO Transit and MiWay. Full-time post-secondary students can apply for a TTC post-secondary monthly pass through their university's student union (many universities negotiate a mandatory transit pass as part of student fees — the U-Pass).
If your university includes a U-Pass in student fees, you already have unlimited TTC access. If not, a regular PRESTO card with a post-secondary monthly pass costs approximately CAD 128/month (verify the current TTC rate). The adult monthly pass is approximately CAD 156/month, so the student saving is around CAD 28/month or CAD 250/year.
For travel beyond Toronto (to Waterloo, Hamilton, or other Ontario cities), GO Transit offers student discounts on some fare types. Check the Metrolinx website.
Berlin — the legendary Semesterticket
The Berlin Semesterticket is one of the best student transit deals in the world. Included in your semester enrolment fee (approximately EUR 300-350 per semester depending on the university — the Semesterticket is a portion of this), it gives you unlimited travel on all BVG and S-Bahn services in Berlin zones ABC for the entire semester (6 months).
That works out to approximately EUR 50-60/month for unlimited urban transport — trains, trams, buses and S-Bahn across all of Berlin. A regular monthly ticket (Monatskarte) for Berlin AB zones costs approximately EUR 86, and ABC costs more. The Semesterticket saves roughly EUR 200-300 per semester compared to buying monthly passes.
You receive the Semesterticket as part of your student ID card (sometimes digital, sometimes physical). It is valid from the first day of the semester. Until you enrol and receive it, buy single tickets or day passes from the BVG app.
Singapore — EZ-Link student concession
Singapore uses the EZ-Link card (or the newer SimplyGo system with contactless bank cards). Full-time students at approved institutions can apply for a student concession card, which gives discounted fares on MRT and buses (approximately 40-50% off adult fares). Application is through the TransitLink website with a letter from your university.
Singapore's MRT system is efficient and covers most of the island. With student concession fares, a typical daily commute costs SGD 1-3. Monthly transport costs for a student are approximately SGD 40-80 — very affordable compared to Western cities. Check flights on our Delhi to Singapore route page and explore the destination on FlightGPT.
Frequently asked questions
Do international students get transit discounts in Sydney?
Generally no. Opal concession fares are primarily for Australian citizens and permanent residents. International students pay adult fares but benefit from weekly and Sunday fare caps.
Is the Berlin Semesterticket really included in enrolment fees?
Yes. It is a component of the semester fee (Semesterbeitrag) that all students pay. It covers unlimited BVG and S-Bahn travel in Berlin for 6 months.
How do I get a Student Oyster card in London?
Apply online through the TfL website after your university verifies your enrolment. Processing takes 2-4 weeks. Use a regular Oyster with pay-as-you-go in the meantime.