University of Wollongong students will be able to sign up for the Opal concession card later this month.
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The student concession card is the last form of the Opal card to be rolled out and people studying at UOW will be able to apply for it from February 16 once they have enrolled and proven their eligibility.
The rollout to tertiary students was more complicated than for other Opal card users as each tertiary institute needs to do some set-up work in the first instance.
The institutions needed to get their processes and IT systems ready to be able to share eligibility information with Transport for NSW.
For students, getting an Opal card will involve filling out an eligibility form - usually as part of their enrolment - and then applying for one online or over the phone.
The university will be one of the first seven tertiary institutions to gain Opal access - the others include The University of Sydney, the University of NSW and Macquarie University.
"These institutions have demonstrated how keen they are to be ready for the first stage of the Concession Opal card rollout. I look forward to welcoming more institutions on board in the near future," Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said.
"I am pleased Opal is proving so popular and I have no doubt tertiary students will love the convenience and savings their Concession Opal card has to offer."
The fares on the concession will be 50 per cent cheaper than the standard Opal fares, which will also make it cheaper than the existing concession paper tickets.
Students will also be eligible for the other touted Opal benefits, including daily travel caps and weekly travel rewards, providing free travel.
ghumphries@fairfaxmedia.com.au
