Ever feel like half your student loan goes straight to the transport gods in London? Bus journeys here, tube rides there – the cost can add up faster. But don't worry! This guide is your ultimate weapon against transport-related budget woes. We'll crack the code on the student Student Oyster Card, reveal all the discounts it unlocks, and show you how to navigate the London transport system like a pro.
What Is A Student Oyster Card?
A Student Oyster Card is a smart card or pass that lets you travel on all the modes of public transport in London. The card can be topped up using a credit card, and it is contactless. This card is the most popular way to pay for public transport in London. It allows you to pay as you go by adding money to it.
Bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, most Elizabeth line, IFS Cloud Cable Car and Thames Clippers River Bus services all accept pay-as-you-go payments. You would be glad to know that these transport services run through most parts of London, including the best neighbourhoods! Read all about the best neighbourhoods in London!
What Is An 18+ Student Oyster Card?
The 18+ Student Oyster Card or photocard works exactly like the standard card, with the only difference being the presence of your photo and extra discounts. The card allows you to travel at discounted rates for the three years of your study program. You can also use the Student Oyster Card for the remainder of your study period.
You save 30% on bus and tram passes and travel cards. You also get a 34% discount on low-traffic rail fares. Ensure that you check if you are eligible for the card before applying for it, and pay a one-time application fee of £20 if you are. You must study for at least 15 hours a week and at least 14 hours during the weekdays to be eligible for a Student Oyster Card. This also applies to postgraduate students studying more than 15 hours a week.
Benefits Of An Student Oyster Card
Getting a card to use public transport in London fast and efficiently has many perks. Here are some of the many Student Oyster Card benefits that one can get:
1. Enjoy endless credit on your card—it never expires, ensuring peace of mind as you can use it anytime, even years later.
2. Seamlessly integrate the Pay as You Go feature with Travel cards for added flexibility.
3. Enjoy the effortless user-friendliness and incredible cost-effectiveness of the Student Oyster Card. Simplify your public transport experience with the Student Oyster Card. No more constant ticket purchases; just tap and go for convenience and savings.
4. Traverse London's extensive public transport network with ease - whether it's trains, buses, trams, tubes, or more.
5. Reach the spending cap and ride worry-free - once reached, subsequent rides are on the house for the remainder of the day, with cap prices varying by zone.Unused card? No problem - simply request a hassle-free refund anytime.
Why Should I Buy a Visitor Oyster Card?
If you’re contemplating buying a card and are only planning on staying in London for a short period, you should certainly consider getting a Visitor Oyster Card. When you look at alternative transport options in London, Uber and taxi rentals prove to be quite expensive. For example, the average price of a short Uber drive, i.e., 1-5 miles, is £1 - £15. In comparison, a visitor or Student Oyster Card is relatively more hassle-free and pocket-friendly.
The visitor Oyster Card prevents the need for constant cash transactions and ensures a smooth experience for visitors experiencing all the things to do in London. Visitor Oyster Cards are a great boon for tourists looking to explore all they can in the English capital.
Standard vs. Visitor Oyster Cards
Although it is similar to a Standard Oyster Card, there is a small difference between them. Here is the difference.
How to Buy a Student Oyster Card?
It is quite easy to buy Student Oyster Cards as well as regular ones. London has made it incredibly accessible for most people to be in possession of one!
1. The Standard and Visitor Oyster Cards can be bought from the underground stations in London and the airports.
2. They are often readily available at ticket machines but can be purchased through newsagents or staffed ticket offices.
3. You can easily apply for a student oyster card online and have it delivered directly to your residence before entering the UK.
4. The Standard Card can only be shipped to a UK address, but a visitor card can be shipped anywhere worldwide.
5. Before you arrive, you won't have to go out and buy one later. To spend less money on the tourist centres in London, you can also get a card as part of a London Pass, but this can only be done online. The payment for the card is made through either cash, a debit card, or a credit card.
Oyster Card Student Login and Application Status
You can apply for a Student Oyster Card as well as check your application status by signing into your Card web account. If you have entered your phone number during the application process, you will receive a text message while your card is delivered.
How Much Does A Student Oyster Card Cost?
There are many options with the card charges. There is a pay-as-you-go option, a travel pass option, and an option that combines both, but the prices for each trip will differ.
1. The regular card costs about £5, and the primary deposit can be refunded.
2. The visitor card costs £5 as well, and this includes postage.
The Student Oyster Card and regular prices can be checked online from your location to the one you're heading to. Till the daily cap is used, the cost of the subsequent trips is cheaper. The prices can also be changed by the time of the day. The prices are high compared to the rest of the day in the rush hours or busy hours from 6:30- 9:30 am and 4:00 -7:00 pm.
Student Oyster Card Discount
Students in London can easily get student discounts on their Oyster Cards. This is a highly feasible technique for international students who depend on public discounts while studying in London. A student above 18 can avail of 30% off Travel Cards and Bus & Tram Passes. The card can be utilised while purchasing Oyster Card monthly pass student and weekly.
How To Check Student Oyster Card Balance
Usually, the balance is displayed at the ticket gates, but if you missed it, there are other ways. Here are the ways for Oyster Card check balance:
Online:
1. Visit the Transport for London (TfL) website.
2. Sign in to your Oyster account.
3. You’ll be able to see the remaining balance on your card.
Please note that Visitor Oyster Cards can’t be registered, so if you want to check your Oyster Card balance, it won’t be available online.
Offline:
1. Visit any Oyster Ticket Stop, Oyster Ticket Machine, or Visitor Center in London.
2. Touch your Student Oyster Card on the yellow reader of any ticket machine.
3. You can see the balance on the screen.
Remember, you can also see your balance every time you exit the tube.
How To Top-Up Oyster Cards
If London’s won over your heart, Student Oyster Cards are a must as the city has some of the best neighbourhoods,so you can plan the perfect trip to the city? Topping up a Student Oyster Card is putting in money to be used later during commuting. The following methods can be used for a Student Oyster Card recharge:
1. The first way is to visit a visitor centre, station, or ticket desk at an Oyster ticket shop in the city.
2. The second way is through the Oyster Website, which can only be done if you already have an account. If you do, you can log in and use the auto Oyster top-up or buy season tickets.
3. The ticket machines at the stations in London, both overground and underground, have machines where you can hold up the card to review your balance and then click on the add top-up feature to add money through cash, credit, or debit.
4. The final option is to use the TfL Oyster app, which is almost the same as reloading credits from the site.
18+ Student Oyster Photocards
The 18+ Student Oyster Photocard is specifically designed for students aged 18 and above residing in a London borough during term time and enrolled in a TfL-registered school, college, or university. It features a photo for identification and grants holders a 30% discount on adult-rate travel cards and season tickets.
Introduced to alleviate commuting costs for London students, it's not valid for leisure travel discounts during vacations. Application is online, requiring a digital photo, student enrolment ID, London address, and a valid debit or credit card for the £20 administration fee.
Eligibility Of An Student Oyster Photocards
1. You must be 18 or over.
2. You must live in a London borough during term time.
3. You must be enrolled at a school, college, or university registered on the TfL scheme or on a mandatory work placement in London.
4. You must also be one of the following:
a. Enrolled inon a full-time course with at least 15 tuition-led or structured learning hours a week. You must attend classes Monday to Friday only (not including evening classes) that span a minimum of 14 weeks on the same course (shorter courses repeated over 14 or more weeks aren’t eligible).
b. Receiving an NHS Bursary as a full-time student. You must give your school, college, or university evidence of your sponsorship so they can validate your application.
c. A full-time postgraduate student, studying or writing up to more than 15 hours a week.
d. A full-time student registered and studying on a higher education course at a school, college, or university not registered with the TfL scheme but on mandatory work placement in London for at least 14 weeks.
e. A sabbatical officer.
f. Enrolled on a part-time course for at least 14 weeks and either receiving an NHS Bursary or a postgraduate student receiving financial help from your education establishment’s hardship fund.
How To Apply For A Student Oyster Photocard?
Here are the steps to apply for an 18+ Student Oyster Photocard:
1. Complete your campus enrolment: You must complete your campus enrolment1 before you can apply for the photocard.
2. Visit the TfL website: Experience the convenience of our online application process by visiting the Transport for London (TfL) website.
3. Sign in or create an account: If you already have an account, sign in. If not, you’ll need to create one.
4. Provide necessary details: You’ll need to provide a colour digital photo, your student enrolment ID from your school, college, or university, a London address, and a valid debit or credit card to pay the £20 administration fee2.
5. Submit your application: After providing all the necessary details, submit your application.
Please note that your address must match the address that your school, college, or university has on record or your application will be placed on hold. Once your application is approved, you’ll receive your 18+ Student Oyster Photocard. This card will unlock a world of savings, allowing you to get 30% off adult-rate travel cards and season tickets.
So here was the A to Z of Student Oyster Cards that most people use in London. You can now easily navigate London zones and public transport. It will make commuting and getting around places by public transport so much easier and cheaper. And of course! Familiarising yourself with the London Underground could certainly help you navigate your way. Or you could just wing it! We hope this blog helped you understand everything you need to know about the Student Oyster Card. So, what are you waiting for?