Student travel with a Concession Opal card
Find out how to apply for student concessions on your commute to campus and save some money
Your student Opal card
Eligible students can apply for a Concession Opal card from Transport NSW.
The allows you to access travel fares at half the price of the Adult Opal card on transport services including:
- Sydney Trains
- Light rail
- All buses in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hunter and Illawarra
- All NSW TrainLink intercity services
- All Sydney Ferries and the Stockton Ferry in Newcastle.
Please note: To apply for a Concession Opal card, you must be in your courses for the upcoming term for at least 48 hours.
🪪 You must carry your UNSW student ID card at all times as proof of identity when travelling with your Concession Opal card.
See also
According to Transport for NSW, you're eligible to apply for a Concession Opal card if you meet all of the following criteria:
✔️ Australian Citizen or Australian Permanent Resident
✔️ Living in New South Wales
✔️ Full-time student enrolled on an internal basis.
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If you are an international student, you are not eligible for a Concession Opal card unless you are studying full-time under one of the following scholarships approved by the Australian Government:
- ճAustralian Awards (two scholarship streams) funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for full scholarships
- ճ scholarships, funded by the Department of Education and training for full research scholarships
- Endeavour scholarships and fellowships.
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Variations in your study load from part-time to full-time and vice versa which will affect your Concession Opal card eligibility.
Your study load is measured by how many Units of Credit (UOC) you enrol in per teaching period.
Under the 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. Your card will be cancelled.
If you aren't enrolled in any courses for a term, you are not eligible for the Concession Opal card in that term.
Under the 91˰涶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. Your card will be cancelled.
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If you are living with a disability or long-term health condition and are registered with , you may be eligible for a Concession Opal card even if you are studying part-time.
Please discuss your eligibility with your .
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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 Opal card.
To check your eligibility, please bring proof of your cross-institutional enrolment to The Nucleus: Student Hub.
- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
- Ensure you meet the eligibility requirements before applying for a concession Opal card.
- in your courses for the upcoming term at least 48 hours before applying.
- Provide consent for UNSW to confirm the details of your eligibility with Transport for NSW through .
- Allow at least two business days for your information to reach Transport for NSW before applying for your Concession Opal card.
- Ensure that you have your student enrolment information on hand when applying. Enter your details, especially your name, exactly as they appear on your UNSW record.
You will need to activate your card before you can use it to travel at concession rates.
Your card will be posted to your mailing address, usually five to seven days after you apply.
Travelling outside the Opal network?
You'll need a Transport Concession Entitlement Card to access concession fares outside the Opal network.
This will allow you to prove your eligibility for concessions on:
- Many rural and regional buses
- NSW TrainLink regional services.
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If you lose your Concession Opal card, please contact Opal directly on 13 67 25 (13 OPAL).
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If your Concession Opal Card is cancelled, you will need to apply for another Concession Opal card. Cancellation of your concession Opal card could be caused by:
- Reducing your enrolment to part-time study load (less than 12 UOC per term, or 36 UOC per year)
- Going on program leave. You will not be eligible for concession fares for the duration of your study leave and will need to reapply once you return as a full-time student. Contact The Nucleus: Student Hub to find out when you will be reactivated as a student.
If you have any money left on your cancelled (invalid) card, you will then need to have the to your new card.
You cannot reactivate a cancelled (invalid) Concession Opal card.
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If you have transferred to UNSW from another institution, you will need to apply for a new Concession Opal card. The Concession Opal card from your previous institution will be cancelled.
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Receiving the error message "Your details do not match, please contact your Education Provider"?
This error usually occurs because the date of birth or name that you have put in your application do not match the records UNSW has for you.
When completing your Concession Opal card application:
- Enter your details exactly as they appear on
- Make sure to put 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.
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If you are unsure about your enrolment status or want to confirm that you have opted in correctly to share your information, The Nucleus: Student Hub can help.
If you lose your Concession Opal card, please contact Opal directly on 13 67 25 (13 OPAL).
If you have any other questions regarding the Concession Opal card, head to .
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