Navigating Singapore’s public transport system as an international student is simple, clean, and efficient. Covering the MRT train network, LRT lines, public buses, and the SimplyGo ticketing platform, this 2026 guide breaks down how to travel across the city-state using student per-trip fares and monthly concession passes.
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Disclaimer: Fares and network details in this guide were verified against official LTA and SimplyGo sources as of September 2026. Transport fares and schemes change periodically — always confirm current rates on SimplyGo's official fare pages before budgeting.
How Singapore's Public Transport System Works
Singapore's public transport is regulated by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). Transport operators include SMRT Trains, SBS Transit, Tower Transit, and Go-Ahead Singapore. SMRT operates the North-South, East-West, Circle, and Thomson-East Coast MRT lines, plus the Bukit Panjang LRT. SBS Transit operates the North East and Downtown MRT lines, along with the Sengkang and Punggol LRT networks.
Ticketing and travel-card services — including EZ-Link and the SimplyGo app — are run by SimplyGo Pte. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the LTA. Because all operators share this one payment system, a single card or account works everywhere.
Fares are distance-based: the farther you travel, the more you pay, up to a capped maximum. When you transfer between buses, MRT, and LRT within the valid transfer window during the same journey, you don't pay an extra boarding charge (see LTA's transfer fare rules).
How to Use the MRT and LRT Network
As of mid-2026, the network has six MRT lines and 146 stations, complemented by three LRT feeder systems serving residential towns (Bukit Panjang, Sengkang, and Punggol). Most international students use the MRT daily to commute between campus, home, and city hubs.
Every station has a short code. For example, Orchard station is NS22 (North-South Line, station 22). Once you understand the station code system, navigation is straightforward.
The Six MRT Lines
What's new in 2026: On 12 July 2026, the Circle Line became a full loop for the first time, after 17 years, when three new stations — Keppel, Cantonment, and Prince Edward Road — opened, directly connecting HarbourFront to Marina Bay. Bayfront and Marina Bay were also renumbered CC34 and CC33 (the older CE1/CE2 branch codes are retired), so double-check any map or app still showing a separate "Marina Bay branch."
Two more lines — the Jurong Region Line and Cross Island Line — are currently under construction, and a Thomson-East Coast Line extension to Sungei Bedok and Changi Airport, plus the Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS Link, are due to open later in 2026, so expect the network map to keep growing over the next few years.
Tip! Download the MyTransport.SG app (published by the LTA) or use Google Maps to plan your route. Both show real-time train and bus arrival times and current service alerts.
How to Pay for Your Transit Ride
Tap your card or mobile payment device on the reader when entering an MRT/LRT station or boarding a bus, and tap again when exiting. Fares are calculated automatically from the distance travelled.
Payment options include:
- Contactless bank card via SimplyGo: Tap your contactless Mastercard, Visa, or mobile wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay). Fares are charged directly to your bank account with no prior top-ups required.
- SimplyGo EZ-Link card: A physical stored-value card topped up via the SimplyGo app, station ticketing machines, or convenience stores.
- Student Concession Card: Eligible students tap their registered concession card to pay student rates or draw down an active Monthly Concession Pass.
Important: Always tap out when exiting the train station or bus. If you forget to tap out, you'll be charged the maximum distance fare for that route.
Getting Around Singapore by Bus
Buses complement train routes and reach destinations not directly served by MRT stations. They operate throughout the day and night, with some extended services on weekends and public holiday eves.
Board from the front door and tap your card on the reader near the driver. Tap out near the exit door when alighting. Standard basic (trunk and feeder) bus fares follow the same distance-based structure as the MRT.
Note: Concession fares and Monthly Concession Passes apply to basic bus services only. Express, premium, and City Direct bus routes charge separate, higher flat or distance fares — check SimplyGo's fare tables before boarding one.
What Is SimplyGo and How Do You Set It Up?
SimplyGo is Singapore's official account-based ticketing platform, run by SimplyGo Pte. Ltd. on behalf of the LTA. It lets commuters link contactless bank cards and transport cards to a single digital account.
Setting Up SimplyGo in Four Steps
- Download the free SimplyGo app from the App Store or Google Play.
- Register an account using your email address and local mobile number.
- Add your contactless bank card, SimplyGo EZ-Link card, or Concession Card to your profile.
- View your travel history, manage top-ups, check card balances, or purchase Monthly Concession Passes directly from your phone.
Note: Since 29 August 2026, AXS Stations no longer accept EZ-Link or SimplyGo EZ-Link card top-ups. Top up your physical stored-value card at MRT station ticketing machines, participating convenience stores (7-Eleven, Cheers), or via the SimplyGo app.
Student Concession Cards and Travel Passes
Concession benefits vary based on your institution and level of study:
- Diploma students: Full-time diploma students at polytechnics, ITE, and eligible Private Education Institutions (PEIs) pay reduced student per-trip fares — currently around $0.52 to $0.78 on basic bus and train services — or can buy a Monthly Concession Pass (MCP) for unlimited travel.
- Undergraduate & degree students: Full-time university undergraduates and degree-level PEI students pay standard adult per-trip fares (currently $1.28 to $2.57). You don't get a discounted per-trip rate, but holding the Undergraduate Concession Card lets you buy a Monthly Concession Pass for unlimited travel on basic buses, trains, or both (Hybrid), which can lower your effective cost if you commute daily.
Exact fares change periodically — always check SimplyGo's official fare tables for the current rates before budgeting.
Concession Card Categories
Can International Students Apply?
Yes. International students enrolled full-time in an eligible course at an approved institution can apply. Required documents typically include:
- Your original passport
- Your digital Student's Pass issued by ICA (reflecting your FIN)
- Your matriculation card or official enrolment letter
How to Apply
- Verify your institution's eligibility on the official SimplyGo concession cards portal.
- Submit your application online via the SimplyGo app/website, or visit a SimplyGo Ticketing Service Centre in person — many universities also run a bulk application exercise each year, so check with your institution's admissions or student services office first.
- Pay the card personalisation and issuance fee.
- Collect or receive your card, then activate it with a minimum top-up at any Ticket Office or Ticketing Service Centre.
Saving Even More: Off-Peak Fare Discounts
Two separate LTA schemes can lower your morning commute cost:
- Morning Pre-Peak Fares Scheme: If you tap into any MRT or LRT station before 7:45am on weekdays (excluding public holidays), you get an automatic 50-cent (SGD 0.50) discount on that rail journey — this applies to both adult and student concession fares.
- Free Morning Off-Peak Rail Travel: If you're commuting on the North East Line or the Sengkang/Punggol LRT, tapping in before 7:30am or between 9:00am and 9:45am on weekdays gets you a free first rail trip, with no registration required. You can also register for the Travel Smart Journeys programme via the SimplyGo app to earn rebate points on connecting bus rides.
Frequently Asked Questions About Singapore Public Transport for Students
- No. Undergraduate university students pay standard adult fares on a per-trip basis (currently $1.28–$2.57). However, holding an Undergraduate Concession Card lets you buy a Monthly Concession Pass for unlimited bus, train, or hybrid travel, which can reduce costs if you commute frequently.
- Yes, provided you're enrolled in a full-time diploma or degree course with a minimum duration of 24 months at an eligible CPE-registered PEI. Diploma-level PEI cardholders get student per-trip fares, while degree-level PEI cardholders pay adult per-trip fares but remain eligible to buy Monthly Concession Passes.
- The Light Rail Transit (LRT) system acts as a feeder train network in residential neighbourhoods like Bukit Panjang, Sengkang, and Punggol. It links housing estates directly to major MRT interchange stations using the same ticketing system and distance-based fare structure.
- Yes. Since 12 July 2026, the Circle Line runs as a closed loop after Keppel, Cantonment, and Prince Edward Road stations opened, connecting HarbourFront directly to Marina Bay.
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