Oyster cards or contactless payment cards are the cheapest way to pay for single fare journeys on the underground, buses, DLR and some trains in London.
Pay as you go
If you don't travel frequently, you may find pay as you go is the cheapest option. If you visit a tube ticket office, you can also link a 16-25 Young Persons Railcard to your Oyster card to save money on off-peak travel.
16+ Zip Card
Students aged 16 or 17 can apply for a 16+ Zip card and request to have this signed at the Student Hub.
To be eligible you must be aged 16 or 17 on 31st August 2026 and be enrolled on a full-time course at Imperial. Students aged 18 and over need to apply for the 18+ Student Oyster card.
18+ Student Oyster Card
With an 18+ Student Oyster Card, you can save 30% off adult-rate Travelcards & Bus/Tram season tickets.
Eligibility
To get an 18+ Student Oyster Card you must be:
- A student aged 18 or over
- A registered, full time student for a minimum of 14 weeks course duration
- Living at a London address during term-time
How to apply
Once you have enrolled, applications can be made online with TFL
You will need:
- A colour digital photo to upload
- Your CID number from the College
- Your course start and end dates
- The full postal address of your London based term-time address
- A valid debit or credit card
- To use the end date on your student card
Please note, there is a similarly named institution on the drop down list (Impel College of London). Please take extra care to select 'Imperial College London' as selecting the wrong institution will delay your discount card being approved.
You can find more information, including full terms and conditions on the Transport for London website
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are part-time students eligible for the 18+ Student Oyster Card?
- When will my card expire?
- How long will it take to get my card?
- What information does the College release about me to TFL?
- Am I eligible for a 16+ Zip Oyster card?
- Where can I find out more information about the 18+ Student Oyster Card?
Part-time students are not eligible.
Your 18+ Student Oyster Card will expire on your course end date.
After the College has confirmed your student registration to TFL, you should receive your card within two to three weeks.
You can track the status of your application by signing into your 18+ web account with TFL.
Once you have made an application for the 18+ Student Oyster Card, the College is required to confirm that you are a registered student, and the expected end of your course.
If you make an application for an 18+ Student Oyster Card, you are agreeing to the College releasing this information to Transport for London and its agents.
Only students aged 16 and 17 can apply for the 16+ Zip Oyster card. The application form (if requiring proof of full-time student status) can be stamped by staff at the Student Hub.
If the student is 18, Imperial cannot sign the 16+ Zip Oyster card form as a Higher Education Institute (level 6).
Students aged 18 and over can only apply for the 18+ Student Oyster Card.
You can find out more information on the TFL website