Public Transport Tips for International Students

Public transport is a lifeline for students, offering an affordable and eco-friendly way to travel. In 2025, with urban areas expanding and public transit networks improving globally, more students are relying on buses, trains, and subways to reach their schools and colleges. 

Studying and living in a foreign country can offer exciting opportunities to explore different new cities. Meanwhile, due to high travel expenses and transportation fares, studying abroad can be financially challenging for many international students. Transportation can account for almost 20% of college living expenses. Therefore, using public transportation can be an easy, safe and money saving option for anyone. Public transport is a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and reliable way to commute, espicially for international students. 

With many of the students commuting to campuses globally, travelling with public transport has become an important resource for managing study costs abroad. Recent initiatives, such as extended student fare concessions and improved safety measures, have made public transport even more accessible and appealing for international students. 

Knowing the Public Transport tips as an international student will save you alot. The article includes simple and practical tips to help students make their public transport experience smoother, safer, and more efficient while saving time and money.

Why is public transport good for students?

Many international students are using public transport to go to their college, part-time work, or explore the city. It’s cheaper, safe, and easy to use. In big cities like London, New York, or Berlin, buses and trains are used every day by students.

Transport cost can take a big part of your monthly money, sometimes almost 20% of student expenses. So using student travel passes, metro cards, and discounts really helps you save money while studying abroad.

Use Student Travel Cards

Many foreign countries such as Germany, the USA, the UK, Australia, etc offer student discount cards for transportation for international students. Students can use these cards to use public transportation such as buses, trains, and subways at reduced fares. 

Moreover, many top universities abroad grant student passes to international students to help them save money on public transit. Overseas aspirants can connect to their respective university or local transport authority to apply for a student travel card while living abroad. 

A few student discount cards for transportation for international students are as follows: 

• United States (US): MTA Student MetroCard in NYC, U-Pass in Chicago, etc.
• Germany: Semester Ticket (unlimited travel for students).
• United Kingdom (UK): 16-25 Railcard (33% off rail travel), Student Oyster Card (30% off in London).
• Canada: PRESTO (Ontario), Opus Card (Montreal), U-Pass (various provinces).
• Australia: Concession Opal Card (NSW), Tertiary Student Concession (Victoria).

Student Travel Discounts in Different Countries (2025)

Many countries give travel discounts for students. You can use special cards to pay less for buses, trains, or subways.

Opt for Monthly or Semester Passes

Purchasing a monthly or semester transport pass is an important factor that helps students save money on travel. Students can purchase these passes instead of paying for each ride separately to get a great discount on travel. 

These passes are generally more affordable than daily tickets. Meanwhile, using student passes can ensure adequate safety while travelling to larger destinations in foreign countries. 

Use Discounted Fare Schemes

Many transport networks offer seasonal or off-peak discounts to attract passengers. Additionally, several transportation agencies provide special fare discounts for students. 

Therefore, international students can contact their nearest transportation networks or research different local transport policies to find schemes to cut down costs on travel. 

Explore Public Rental Services

Vehicle rentals and shared taxis are very common modes of transportation available in several countries. These shared taxis, bikes, and rental services are often cheaper than regular public transit. 

Therefore, using these rental services for reasonable distances can work as a valuable alternative for international students to save a large amount in a foreign destination. While these rental and shared services are budget and eco-friendly for students, however, it is important to prioritise safety when using any rental service in a foreign destination.  

Avail Free University Shuttle Services

Several universities abroad provide free shuttle services for international students for small distances. These shuttle services cover distances between campuses or from student housing to key locations. 

Students can contact their university authorities to find the availability of this facility to reduce daily commuting expenses. A few popular universities that offer free shuttle services are as follows:

• Harvard University: Harvard Shuttle Bus
• Stanford University: Marguerite
• University of Oxford: OxfordTube services
• University of Manchester: Bee Network 147 bus
• University of California, Los Angeles: UCLA BruinBus

Travel During Off-Peak Hours 

Many cities offer reduced fares for travelling during non-rush hours. International students can research the timings of their local public transportation systems to take advantage of lower fares. 

Check for International Student Discounts

Countries like the USA, the UK, Canada, Germany, etc offer special travel discounts for international students to make communication more affordable. Additionally, some global student organizations offer discounted transport passes for international students that are applicable in multiple countries. A few popular International Student Discounts are as follows:

• ISIC Card (International Student Identity Card) in the USA.
• BahnCard: The BahnCard is a discount card with a subscription plan that lets you save 25 or 50 percent on every journey in Germany.

Use Transport Apps for Discounts and Best Routes

International students can rely on various mobile apps such as Google Maps, Citymapper, and local transit apps to discover the fastest routes. These apps can help students get real-time updates of traffic, discounts, and special offers to get the cheapest routes. 

Walk When Possible

If the destination is within a reasonable walking distance, students can consider walking to save money. Walking nearby distances, university campuses, and neighbourhoods can help students explore their surroundings better.