Tertiary student concession
Find out about discounted fares for university students in Auckland, and how to apply.
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Fares for tertiary students
Full-time students at any of Auckland’s universities or polytechs are eligible for a tertiary student concession. This gives you 20% off travel on most buses, trains and ferries when using your registered AT HOP card.
To get discounted fares, students must:
- be enrolled full time at an Auckland tertiary institute (university or polytech)
- have an AT HOP card registered with a tertiary concession.
Concessions are only available with a registered AT HOP card. When paying by cash or contactless, you will pay the full adult fare.
Bus and train fares for tertiary students
Cash fare (trains only)
CityLink $1
1 zone $4
2 zones $6
3 zones $8
4+ zones $10
AT HOP fare
CityLink $0.65
1 zone $2.15
2 zones $3.70
3 zones $5
4+ zones $6.10
Ferry fares for tertiary students
Local ferry
Te Onewa Northcote Point to or from Birkenhead
AT HOP $2.15
Cash $4
Inter ferry
Beach Haven to or from Hobsonville Point
AT HOP $3.70
Cash $6
Inner Harbour Ferry
To or from the city centre and Bayswater, Birkenhead, Te Onewa Northcote Point, or Devonport
AT HOP $5.92
Cash $11.50
Mid Harbour Ferry
To or from the city centre and Half Moon Bay, West Harbour, Beach Haven, or Hobsonville Point
AT HOP $7.92
Cash $14.50
Outer Harbour Ferry
To or from the city centre and Gulf Harbour or Pine Harbour
AT HOP $10.56
Cash $17
Tertiary student discounts are not available on Rakino Island or Waikehe Island services.
Apply online for tertiary student fares (5 steps)
Before you start
You’ll need:
- a registered AT HOP card
- a MyAT account
- your student ID
- login details for your university account.
Additional requirements
You will also need the AT Mobile app on your phone if you attend:
- the University of Auckland (UoA)
- Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
- Massey University.
You may also need an AT tertiary ID sticker. You can get this from your student hub on campus.
You’ll need an AT tertiary ID sticker if you:
- don't have a smartphone
- use an AT HOP card that someone else manages
- go to a tertiary institute other than UoA, AUT, or Massey University.
Apply for the concession
- In your MyAT account, select ‘Apply for a concession’.
- Choose ‘Tertiary’ from the concession type list.
- Choose your tertiary provider from the list.
- Select which card you want to apply the concession to.
- Follow the directions to either log into your student portal or enter your AT tertiary ID sticker number to verify your enrolment status.
- Select ‘Apply’.
Upload an ID photo - only for students of UoA, AUT and Massey
- You’ll receive an email with a prompt to upload your photo to the AT Mobile app.
- Open the AT Mobile app and select the 3-line menu button on the top left.
- Select ‘Tertiary concessions’ from the menu.
- Select ‘Continue’ to verify your tertiary concession status.
- Either take a passport-style photo or choose a photo from your library.
Wait for confirmation
We’ll email you to let you know we’ve received your application, and again when your concession is loaded. This can take 1 to 3 days. If you use your card in the meantime, adult fares will apply.
You can view the status of your concession in MyAT:
- ‘Active’ means your concession is active and ready to use
- ‘Pending’ means your concession is being processed.
Tag on to activate your concession
To activate your concession, tag on to the HOP reader or electronic gate on any bus, train or ferry.
If you do not tag on within 60 days of setting up your concession, it will expire and your card will revert to adult fares. If this happens, contact us and we can reactivate your concession for you.
Apply in person for tertiary student fares
You can apply for a concession in person at any of our customer service centres. You can buy an AT HOP card at the same time or bring an existing card with you.
You’ll need to apply in person if you:
- don’t have a smartphone
- use an AT HOP card that someone else manages
- are having problems with your application.
Bring your student ID card and your AT tertiary ID sticker (if needed). You can get this sticker from your student hub at your place of study.
Find a customer service centre near you.
Important things to know
Who is eligible
To get the tertiary concession, you must be a full-time student at an Auckland-based university or polytech.
You are not eligible if you:
- don’t have an approved student ID card
- are a part-time tertiary student
- attend a tertiary institute outside the Auckland region
- attend a private training institute (for example, a language school).
See our full terms and conditions for tertiary concessions.
What happens if your card gets lost, stolen or damaged
Your concession is attached to your AT HOP card, not your account. This means if you lose your card and need a replacement, you need to contact us to transfer the concession onto your new card. You can also transfer any remaining balance from the old card onto the new.
Find out how to cancel a card and transfer the balance.
If you’re eligible for multiple concessions
You can only have one concession per card. If you’re eligible for another concession, for example SuperGold or Community Connect, this can be loaded onto a second AT HOP card to use at different times.
Find out more about the Community Connect concession, for people who have a Community Services Card.
Find out more about the SuperGold concession, for seniors who have a SuperGold card.
Where discounted tertiary student fares apply
Tertiary student discounts apply on AT bus, train and ferry services.
Discounts are not available on Waiheke Island and Rakino Island ferry services.
Discounts are not available on inter-regional bus or train services.
Adult fares apply when buying tickets without a registered AT HOP card.
Carry proof of ID when you travel
A Transport Officer may ask you to show your valid student ID to prove you are eligible for the concession. They may also ask to see your tertiary ID sticker or AT Mobile app.
Expiry
If you are a student of UoA, AUT or Massey University and applied online, your concession will expire after 3 years or when you are no longer eligible.
If you are a student at another tertiary institute, or applied for your concession in person, it will expire at the earliest of either:
- 31 March the following year
- when your AT tertiary ID sticker expires
- when your student ID card expires.
If you’re still eligible when your concession expires, you can contact us to renew it or reapply online.
If you’re no longer eligible for the tertiary student concession, you can check your eligibility for our other discounts on public transport.