Transport concessions for tertiary students

Who is eligible?

Students are eligible for a tertiary transport concession if:

• they are enrolled in a course as a full-time student attending an educational institution located in Queensland (or Queensland residents attending the Tweed Heads campus at Southern Cross University), and the course is:
  • approved by Centrelink for Abstudy, Austudy, or Youth Allowance purposes, or
  • at postgraduate level.

What is the definition of a full-time student?

For Department of Transport and Main Roads purposes, a full-time student is deemed a student who physically attends an educational institution (or institutions) in Queensland for a minimum period of 12 hours per week and the course has a minimum duration of 12 weeks.

Part-time postgraduate students are not eligible for concession fares. Full-time correspondence, external or distance students are not eligible for concession fares.

What is available to students?

Eligible students are now able to travel at all times on QR Citytrain rail services, Brisbane City Council bus and ferry services and all other urban bus services throughout the state for half the regular fare.

Eligible students can use their tertiary transport card or photographic student ID card with the QR Identifier throughout Queensland.

How to access transport concessions

Eligible students in south east Queensland need to approach their student administration officer and request to have a QR Identifier placed on the student ID card.

Eligible students outside the south east Queensland region need to complete a Tertiary Transport Card Application to apply for a tertiary transport card.

Once completed, students need to have their application form verified by their student administration officer. The form is then forwarded to QR's ticketing services unit at the address indicated on the form. Allow 15 working days for processing. Please telephone Ticketing Services QR on +61 7 3235 2810^z if you have any queries about the Tertiary Transport Card, or if you wish to enquire as to how your application is progressing. Alternatively, you can telephone the QR General Enquiry Line on 13 16 17^y and ask to be put through to the Ticketing Services area on +61 7 3235 2810^z.

Note: the south east Queensland is defined as the area stretching from Gympie in the north to Coolangatta in the south and west to Helidon. The rest of the state is defined as all areas outside of the south east region.

How do educational institutions obtain supplies of QR Identifiers?

Educational institutions need to complete a Department of Transport and Main Roads Educational Institution Queensland Rail Identifiers Application. Once completed the form must be forwarded to QR's ticketing services unit at the address indicated on the form.

It should be noted that institutions are no longer required to provide documents certifying that they hold appropriate accreditation and are a registered training provider with the Australian Training Recognition Council, however, these facts will require certifying on the application form.

Bitmap images of the QR Identifiers are available under special circumstances.

Frequently asked questions

Additional information can be found in the frequently asked questions document:

Transport Concessions for Tertiary Students – Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 131 KB)

Find out more

For enquiries about tertiary transport concessions and the QR identifier, or for information on the progress of your Tertiary Transport Card application, please contact Ticketing Services QR on +61 7 3235 2810^z. Alternatively, you can telephone the QR General Enquiry line on 13 16 17^y and ask to be put through to the Ticketing Services area on +61 7 3235 2810^z.

For information regarding policy matters in relation to tertiary concessions, please contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads on +61 7 3167 4552^z.