Getting around Brisbane as a student
New to Brisbane, or just arrived to study? Here's the short version of how to get around: the network, how to pay, how to reach your campus, and how to get home safely at night. No car needed.
The network, at a glance
Trains
The fast backbone, running across the city and out to the suburbs and the Gold Coast.
Buses & the busway
The widest coverage, with dedicated busways that skip the traffic to the city and the universities.
Ferries (CityCat)
The scenic way along the Brisbane River, linking the city, South Bank, West End and UQ.
G:link tram
The Gold Coast light rail, running the coast from Helensvale to Broadbeach past Griffith and the beaches.
How to pay
Tap on and off with your phone, a contactless bank card or a go card, no paper ticket needed. Right now every trip across South East Queensland is a flat 50c fare, the same for everyone, so you don't need to sort out a student concession to get the cheap fare. Both the fares and the card system are changing during 2026, so check TransLink for the official, current details.
Planning your trips
GoThere shows live train, bus and ferry times for any stop, plans door-to-door trips, and tells you the last service home, all in your browser with nothing to download. Add it to your phone's home screen and it's one tap away.
Getting to your campus
Every campus has its own guide with the buses, ferries and trains that serve it, what's nearby, and easy escapes.
UQ St Lucia →
University of Queensland · Brisbane
Griffith Gold Coast →
Griffith University · Gold Coast
QUT Gardens Point →
Queensland University of Technology · Brisbane
QUT Kelvin Grove →
Queensland University of Technology · Brisbane
Griffith Nathan →
Griffith University · Brisbane
Bond University →
Bond University · Gold Coast
UQ Herston →
University of Queensland · Brisbane
Griffith South Bank →
Griffith University · Brisbane
CQUniversity Brisbane →
CQUniversity · Brisbane
ACU Banyo →
Australian Catholic University · Brisbane
Getting home at night
On Friday and Saturday nights, NightLink trains and buses run into the early hours. Any other night, the trick is to check the last service before you go out so you know your cut-off time.
From the airport
Just landed? The Airtrain runs from both Brisbane Airport terminals into the city and on to the Gold Coast line, where you can connect to the rest of the network. See our airport transport guide for the details.
Student transport questions
Do I need a car to study in Brisbane?+
No. Trains, buses, ferries and the busway cover the city and the suburbs, and every campus is reachable on public transport. Plenty of students never own a car.
How do I pay for public transport in Brisbane?+
Tap on and off with your phone, a contactless bank card or a go card. Right now every trip across South East Queensland is a flat 50c fare, so you don't need to sort out a student concession to get the cheap fare.
Do international students get a student concession?+
At the moment everyone pays the same flat 50c fare, so the concession question doesn't really come up. Both the fares and the card system are changing in 2026, so check TransLink for the latest before you rely on anything.
How do I get home late at night?+
On Friday and Saturday nights, NightLink trains and buses run into the early hours. Any night, check the last service before you head out so you're not caught short.