If you are studying in Melbourne this semester, your daily commute is about to cost you a lot less. Since 1 June 2026, the Victorian Government has cut every myki fare in half, and the discount is locked in until 1 January 2027. For students juggling rent, groceries and tuition, that is real money back in your pocket every single week.
But half-price fares are only part of the story. International students access their discount differently to domestic students, and understanding the difference can save you hundreds of dollars over a semester. This guide breaks down exactly what you will pay, how to set yourself up with the right kind of myki, and the extra free tricks Melbourne students use to travel for even less.
What actually changed on 1 June 2026
Victoria ran a completely free public transport period from 31 March to 31 May 2026. When that ended, the government did not return fares to normal. Instead, it introduced a half-price fare period that runs from 1 June 2026 to 1 January 2027, covering:
- Metropolitan trains, trams and buses across Melbourne
- Regional trains, coaches and regional town bus services
Airport buses (such as SkyBus), ferries and some privately operated services are not included, so budget for those separately.
You do not need to apply for anything to get the half-price rate on a standard myki. Just tap on and tap off as usual and the discount is applied automatically at the reader.
Because this is a temporary measure with a confirmed end date, it is worth building your semester budget around the current half-price rate but keeping an eye on official Transport Victoria updates closer to January 2027 in case fares change again.
How much will you actually pay?
Here is what the half-price period currently looks like on a standard myki, based on Transport Victoria’s published fares:
| Fare type | 2-hour fare | Weekday daily cap | Weekend / public holiday cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full fare | $2.85 | $5.70 | $4.00 |
| Concession fare | $1.42 | $2.85 | $2.00 |
Once you have tapped on enough trips in a day to reach the daily cap, every further tap that day is free, which makes myki genuinely good value if you are moving around the city a lot. Fares can be adjusted, so always check the current numbers on the Transport Victoria fares page or use the official fare calculator before budgeting for a big travel day.
Domestic students: getting a Concession myki
If you are a local full-time student — whether at university, TAFE, completing VCE, VCAL or a Victorian Pathways Certificate — you are eligible for a Concession myki, which gives you the discounted concession fare shown above (on top of the current half-price rate).
To set one up:
- Get a Transport Victoria Approved School ID or Transport Victoria School Student ID from your institution (a small fee of around $9 may apply if you need a new one issued).
- Purchase a Concession myki for $3, or activate a free concession myki through the Mobile myki app on a compatible phone.
- Always carry your school ID alongside your myki when travelling, since authorised officers can ask to see both.
Postgraduate students and part-time students are generally not eligible for the standard student concession, so check your enrolment type with your institution’s student support team if you are unsure.
International students: the International Student Travel Pass
Here is the part that catches a lot of new arrivals out: international students are not issued a pay-as-you-go Concession myki the way domestic students are. Instead, eligible international students access discounted travel through the International Student Travel Pass (ISTP), a period pass rather than a top-up card.
Who is eligible?
You generally qualify if you are a full-time international student studying a bachelor or associate degree, diploma or advanced diploma at a participating institution. Exchange students, refugees and Australian Awards Scholarship recipients are not eligible for the ISTP, as they already access other transport discounts.
How much does it cost?
The ISTP is sold as a period pass rather than a daily top-up, with three duration options:
| Pass length | Approx. price (statewide) |
|---|---|
| 90 days | $154 |
| 180 days | $351 |
| 365 days | $556 |
A statewide pass gives unlimited travel across Victoria on trains, trams and buses, including night services, at prices Transport Victoria estimates can save eligible students over $1,000 a year compared to paying full fares.
How to apply
- Confirm your institution participates in the ISTP program. Not every provider is enrolled, so check with your student support or administration team, or search the participating institution list at internationalstudent.ptv.vic.gov.au.
- Request an ISTP application code from your institution.
- Register on the official portal using your code, along with a current postal address and photo ID.
- Allow around three weeks for your pass to be posted to you, so apply as early as possible after enrolling rather than waiting until you need it.
If your course or provider is not currently listed as an ISTP participant, you are not automatically excluded from cheaper travel. During the half-price period, everyone — including international students on a standard full-fare myki — already pays a reduced daily-capped rate simply by tapping on and off, without needing to apply for anything.
Is the ISTP worth it?
Whether the pass is worth buying depends entirely on how much you travel. If you commute daily and explore the city widely on weekends, the unlimited-travel pass can work out cheaper than paying capped daily fares over a full semester, especially once the half-price period ends. If you mostly travel short distances a few days a week, paying as you go on a standard full-fare myki during the current half-price period may suit you better. Run your own numbers using the official fare calculator against the ISTP price table before committing, since this is a purchase decision only you can make based on your own travel patterns.
Free and low-cost ways to stretch your myki further
Even with half-price fares, a few built-in features can shave your travel costs down even more:
- Free Tram Zone. All trams within Melbourne’s CBD and Docklands — including the City Circle Tram — are completely free. If you accidentally tap on inside the zone, tap off again before leaving it to avoid being charged a full Zone 1+2 fare.
- Early bird trains. Tap on to a metropolitan train service before 7am on a weekday and your trip is free.
- Evening discount. Tap on after 6pm and you travel for just the cost of a single 2-hour fare, no matter how many trips or how late you travel.
- Mobile myki. Add a myki to your phone’s digital wallet to top up instantly, check your balance in real time, and avoid the hassle of carrying (or losing) a physical card.
- Weekend and public holiday caps. Daily spending is capped lower on weekends and public holidays, so a full day exploring Melbourne’s markets, galleries or parks costs less than a weekday commute.
Setting yourself up in your first week
If you have just arrived in Melbourne, here is a simple checklist for your first week:
- Decide whether you are eligible for a Concession myki (domestic students) or the International Student Travel Pass (eligible international students), and start that application immediately given ISTP processing can take around three weeks.
- In the meantime, buy a standard full-fare myki from a 7-Eleven, staffed PTV outlet, premium station, or the PTV app, and top up enough to get moving straight away — you will still receive the current half-price discount automatically.
- Download the PTV app to plan routes, check real-time departures and see service disruptions.
- Learn the boundaries of the Free Tram Zone if your accommodation or campus is near the CBD.
- Keep your myki (or phone, if using Mobile myki) charged and topped up, since running out of balance mid-trip can mean an on-the-spot fine if you cannot tap on correctly.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to apply for anything to get half-price fares? No. The half-price discount on standard full-fare and concession myki applies automatically when you tap on and off — no application needed.
Is the half-price period permanent? No, it currently runs from 1 June 2026 to 1 January 2027. Check Transport Victoria’s website closer to that date for any updates.
Can international students get a Concession myki? Generally no. International students access discounted travel through the International Student Travel Pass rather than a pay-as-you-go Concession myki, and eligibility depends on your course level and institution.
What if my institution does not participate in the ISTP? You can still travel on a standard full-fare myki and receive the automatic half-price discount during the current period. Ask your student support team whether ISTP participation is being considered.
Is the Free Tram Zone still free in 2026? Yes, all trams travelling entirely within the CBD and Docklands zone remain free, regardless of the wider fare changes.
Evantaa Institute is not able to provide financial or legal advice. This article summarises publicly available information from Transport Victoria and Study Melbourne as at July 2026. Fares and program eligibility can change, so always confirm current details on the official Transport Victoria and Study Melbourne websites before making purchasing decisions.
Final thoughts
Melbourne’s half-price fares make this an unusually affordable time to be a student getting around the city, and knowing which discount pathway applies to you — Concession myki or the International Student Travel Pass — means you will not overpay by accident in your first few weeks. Sort out your eligibility early, download the PTV app, and start exploring everything Melbourne has to offer while fares are this low.
Have a question about getting around Melbourne as a student? Drop by Evantaa Institute’s student services desk — our team can help point you toward the right transport option for your enrolment.
Sources
- Transport Victoria — Public transport now half price for everyone
- Transport Victoria — Free public transport across Victoria
- Transport Victoria — Students (myki types) and Concession myki
- Transport Victoria — Metropolitan train, tram and bus fares; Your guide to myki fares; Cheaper travel with myki
- Transport Victoria — International Student Travel Pass campaign; Mobile myki
- Study Melbourne — International Student Travel Pass