King's College London - Student Oyster Photocard Scheme

What the Student Oyster Photocard gives you

You will receive a discount of 30% discount on adult-rate Travelcards, as well as on bus and tram season tickets (weekly and monthly tickets) across the entire Transport for London network. The discount applies to National Rail trains in the Greater London area, the London Underground, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), Tramlink and London buses. This is not a cash grant. It is a discount card administered by Transport for London (TfL) and authorised by King’s College London for its students. The card is valid for up to 3 years, depending on the duration of your course. It expires when your course ends or your student status changes. You pay a one-off administration fee of approximately 24 euros (£21). If you also purchase a 16–25 or 26–30 Railcard, you can add it to save a further 33 per cent on single journey fares outside peak hours.

Who can apply

• Age: You are 18 or older.
• Where you live: During term time, you live at an address in a London borough.
• University: You are enrolled at King’s College London and have completed the enrolment process in full, including on-campus enrolment.
• Study mode: You are a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate student. Full-time means at least 15 hours of taught or structured study per week over a period of at least 14 weeks, with lessons taking place from Monday to Friday (no evening classes).
• Part-time students: You are not normally eligible for funding. There are two exceptions: if you are receiving an NHS scholarship, or if you are a part-time PhD student and receive a hardship grant from the university (proof required).
• Field of study: Open to all disciplines.
• Nationality: All nationalities welcome.

How to apply

You apply for the discount online via the TfL Photocard portal. This is the only way to receive the discount. You can submit your application from 1 September each year, but only once you have fully enrolled and your term has begun. You cannot apply before your first day of study. When selecting your institution, choose ‘King’s College London, James Clerk Maxwell Building, 57 Waterloo Road’. If you provide incorrect details, your application will be rejected. The Student Funding Office at King’s approves valid applications, and the card will be sent to you by post within five to seven days.

How realistic are your chances?

This is not an award granted on a competitive basis. Anyone who meets the criteria will receive the discount. There is no selection process and no set limit on the number of participants. If you are 18 or older, studying full-time at King’s and living in London during the term, approval is essentially automatic once your enrolment is complete. Simply apply for the discount using the correct details of your university and your 7- or 8-digit student number to avoid delays or being charged twice.