Tertiary student concession Tertiary student concession
On 1 May 2024, half-price fares for youth ages 16 to 24 will end. If you are eligible for a tertiary concession, you should apply now. If you’re under 25, your tertiary concession will activate on 1 May or your 25th birthday, whichever comes first. That way, you’ll pay the cheapest fare available to you.
Save on bus, ferry, and train fares with a tertiary student concession.
On this page
Before you start
See how much you'll save
How to apply:
How long your concession will last
When you travel
Special offers
Before you start
To apply for a tertiary concession online:
- Check whether you're eligible for a tertiary student concession.
- Register your AT HOP card.
- Follow the steps for your tertiary institute:
If you are a full-time tertiary student under 25 years old
You are eligible for a Youth concession which will give you cheaper fares than a tertiary concession.
Find out how to get a Youth (16 to 24 years) concession.
When 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, and don't have a smartphone
- Have any problems with your application,
You'll need to visit an AT Customer Service Centre to apply for your concession. Make sure you bring your AT HOP card, student ID, and Tertiary ID sticker with you.
Eligibility
You must be a full-time tertiary student to get a tertiary concession.
You'll also need to be attending an eligible course at an AT-approved tertiary institution.
See our tertiary student discount terms and conditions for full eligibility criteria.
If you receive a Student Allowance from StudyLink, you may be eligible for the 50% Community Connect discount. Learn more about Community Connect.
Multiple concessions
You can only hold one AT HOP card with a tertiary concession on it.
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 could save at least 20% on buses, trains, and ferry fares when you travel with a tertiary student concession.
Plus, you'll get an extra 10% discount if you travel at off-peak times.
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% |
Off-peak travel times:
- Before 6am on weekdays
- Between 9am and 3pm on weekdays
- After 6:30pm on weekdays
- All days weekends and public holidays.
Terms of use for AT HOP cards apply.
If you’re a student of the University of Auckland, AUT, or Massey University:
Step 1: Apply online
Before you start
You’ll need to register your AT HOP card.
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-style photo to AT Mobile
Before you start
You’ll need access to the internet and the AT Mobile app.
You'll need a passport-style photo on your phone.
Log into the AT Mobile app using your MyAT login and password.
From the app menu, choose “Tertiary Concessions”.
Upload a passport-style photo.
Make sure you’ve got this photo with you when you travel. We might ask to see it to check that you’re eligible for your concession.
Step 3: Tag on to activate your concession
You’ll get an email from us when your concession’s ready to go.
Tag on to 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 to get 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.
Make sure you 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 soonest of the following:
- 31 March of the following year OR
- The expiry date of the 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
- If you used the AT Mobile App to set up your concession: Your valid student ID card and a device with the AT Mobile App.
Special offers
It's not just buses, trains, and ferries that you could be saving on. With your tertiary concession, you could be getting great deals in stores across Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland.
Current offers
There are no offers currently available.