London is an expensive city to live in. Overpriced drinks, extortionate rent and, most obviously, the cost of travel.
However, London is also an amazing place to live and a popular choice for university students given the fact that it is a hub of activity and filled with impressive academic institutions.
With an 18+ Student Oyster card you can get cheaper travel with discounted Travelcards, and discounted Bus & Tram season tickets.
If you add a 16-25 Railcard or 26-30 Railcard to your Oyster card you can save 34% on pay as you go off-peak fares and daily caps on the Tube, London Overground, Elizabeth line and most National Rail services in London.
What is an 18+ Oyster card?
18+ Oyster cards are for people living in London who are over the age of 18 and enrolled in education such as school, college, university, or a work placement.
You must be 18 or over, living in a London borough during term time, and enrolled in an education institution (or work placement) registered on the TFL scheme.
You must also be one of the following:
- Enrolled on a full-time course with at least 15 tuition-led or structured learning hours a week Monday to Friday only.
- Receiving an NHS bursary as a full-time student
- A full-time postgraduate student (studying or writing up to more than 15 hours a week)
- Enrolled on a part-time course for at least 14 weeks whilst either receiving an NHS bursary or being a postgraduate student receiving financial help from your institution’s hardship fund.
- A sabbatical officer
- 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
When your course ends, you 18+ Oyster card will expire. Your academic institution will tell TFL if you are no longer eligible for the card or if your course end date has changed.
How do you apply for an 18+ Oyster card?
There are two ways to apply for an 18+ Oyster card: Through your academic institution, or through your work placement. You can apply for your card here.
Apply through your school, college, or university
You can only apply for your Oyster card once you are fully enrolled with your academic institution.
You need to first make an account, then select your institution. After that, you will provide your email address, student ID number, your London borough address, and a digital photograph to be used on the card.
There is also an administration fee of £20 that you will have to pay.
When your school, college or university has approved your application, TFL will be in touch to let you know. They will then check that your photograph is suitable, and, if so, they will send your card to your address.
Apply through your work placement
Similarly, to apply through your work placement you need to make an account, provide your email address, student ID number, and a digital photo. You also need to provide the start and end date of you work placement.
After paying the £20 fee, you need to send TFL a letter confirming your work placement status from your school, college, or university.