Tertiary student concession Tertiary student concession
Half-price youth fares for passengers 16 to 24 years old are no longer available.
With the tertiary concession, full-time tertiary students can save 20% on adult fares.
All concessions require a registered HOP card. Concessions are not available with contactless payments.
On this page
How to apply
How long your concession will last
How to apply
Check if you’re eligible for the tertiary student concession, then apply online or visit one of our customer service centres.
You must register your AT HOP card before applying. If you don’t have one, find out how to buy a HOP card.
Option 1: Apply online
To apply online, follow the steps for your tertiary institute:
Option 2: Apply at an AT customer service centre
Visit an AT customer service centre to apply in person. Bring your AT HOP card, student ID and Tertiary ID sticker with you.
You’ll need to apply in person if you:
- have an AT HOP card registered to a linked account
- are a student at the University of Auckland, AUT or Massey but don’t have a smartphone
- are having problems with your application.
Eligibility for the tertiary concession
You must be a full-time tertiary student to qualify. You must also be enrolled in an eligible course at an AT-approved tertiary institution.
See our tertiary concession terms and conditions for full eligibility criteria.
If you get a student allowance from StudyLink, you may be eligible for the 50% off Community Connect concession.
Multiple concessions
You can hold only one AT HOP card loaded with a tertiary concession.
However, if you’re eligible for a SuperGold concession and a tertiary concession, you can hold:
- a Gold AT HOP card with a SuperGold concession and
- a separate AT HOP card with a tertiary concession.
Learn more about multiple concessions.
See how much you’ll save
If you’re an eligible full-time student, you'll save at least 20% on bus, train and ferry fares when you travel with a tertiary student concession.
Plus, you can get an extra 10% discount if you travel at off-peak times:
- before 6am on weekdays
- between 9am and 3pm on weekdays
- after 6:30pm on weekdays
- all day on weekends and public holidays.
To get these discounts
You must have a registered AT HOP card and use it to travel on public transport.
Check out your savings
| Zone/Service | CityLink buses | 1 zone | 2 zones | 3 zones | 4 zones | 5 zones | 6 zones | 7 zones | 8 zones | 9 zones |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult fare | $0.70 | $2.60 | $4.45 | $6 | $7.40 | $8.50 | $9.60 | $10.70 | $11.80 | $12.70 |
| Tertiary fare | $0.55 | $2 | $3.50 | $4.80 | $5.90 | $6.80 | $7.65 | $8.50 | $9.30 | $9.60 |
| Tertiary savings by % | 21% | 23% | 21% | 20% | 20% | 20% | 20% | 21% | 21% | 24% |
AT HOP card terms of use apply.
University of Auckland, AUT or Massey University
Step 1: Apply online
Before you start
From your MyAT account:
- select "View and manage my card"
- select the "Available products" tab
- select "Apply for a concession"
- choose "Tertiary" from the concession type list
- choose your institution and complete the application form.
Step 2: Upload a passport photo to AT Mobile
- Log in to the AT Mobile app using your MyAT login and password.
- From the app menu, choose “Tertiary Concessions”.
- Upload a passport photo.
Step 3: Tag on to activate your concession
We’ll email you when your concession’s ready to go.
Tag on at an AT HOP card reader or electronic gate within 60 days to activate your concession on your AT HOP card.
You must travel with your AT HOP card to get your tertiary savings.
All other tertiary institutes
Step 1: Get your Tertiary ID sticker
You’ll need an AT Tertiary ID sticker on your student ID to prove you’re eligible for the concession.
Step 2: Start your application online
From your MyAT account:
- select "View and manage my card"
- select the "Available products" tab
- select "Apply for a concession"
- choose "Tertiary" from the concession type list
- choose "Others" from the tertiary provider list and complete the application form.
Step 3: Visit an AT customer service centre
Visit your nearest AT customer service centre to load your concession onto your card.
Bring your AT HOP card, student ID card and Tertiary ID sticker with you.
How long your concession will last
Your concession will last from the first day of your course (usually 1 March) to the earliest of the following:
- 31 March of the following year OR
- the expiry date of your AT tertiary ID sticker OR
- the expiry date of your student ID card.
You’ll need to apply for and reactivate your tertiary concession when it expires.
University of Auckland, AUT and Massey students
If you used the AT mobile app to set up your concession:
- Your tertiary concession will be active on your AT HOP card for up to 3 years, as long as you're still eligible during that time.
- The AT Mobile App will show your eligibility for the tertiary concession.
When you travel
When you travel on public transport, you must be able to prove that you're eligible for a tertiary concession if we ask you.
That means you must travel with either:
- your valid student ID card with an AT Tertiary ID sticker on it OR
- your valid student ID card and a device with the AT Mobile app, if you used AT Mobile to set up your concession.