You know what’s annoying? You can be a full-time student and still pay adult TTC fares all month… because TTC and PRESTO treat “post-secondary” as a setup, not a vibe.
The fastest way is a two-stop errand:
Bathurst Station (Photo ID Centre) → Shoppers Drug Mart (set your PRESTO fare type).
If you’re deciding between Youth vs Post-Secondary on PRESTO, read this first: PRESTO student fare types. For the bigger picture, this one helps too: student transit discounts in Ontario.
What you’re actually getting (so expectations are right)
On TTC, “post-secondary” doesn’t mean cheaper pay-as-you-go taps. Your tap fare is basically the adult fare.
The post-secondary setup is mainly for one thing: it lets you buy the TTC Post-Secondary Monthly Pass (unlimited TTC rides for the month).
Start at Bathurst Station (Photo ID Centre)
This is where you get the TTC Post-Secondary Student Photo ID Card.
- Where: Concourse level at Bathurst Station (Line 2)
- Hours: Mon–Fri 3 pm–7 pm, Sat 10 am–2 pm, Sun closed
- Cost: $5.25 (Interac debit chip + PIN or cash)
Quick timing note: if you’re reading this in late August, that’s usually the sweet spot. TTC posts a yearly start date for new school-year cards (for example, the 2025–2026 cards were listed as available Aug 15, 2025).
Also: hours can change (and they’re already weird), so check the TTC page the same day you go.
Bring this (don’t overthink it)
- Proof you’re full-time (enrolment letter/confirmation showing your name + school + dates)
- Photo ID (government ID or school ID)
- Payment for the card
Eligibility detail (quick version): TTC ties this to being full-time at a recognized post-secondary institution located within Toronto, or a qualifying private career college located within Toronto.
Then go to Shoppers (this is where PRESTO gets flipped)
Once you have the TTC photo ID card, go to a participating Shoppers Drug Mart and ask them to set your PRESTO fare type to Post-Secondary (TTC).
Bring:
- Your TTC Post-Secondary Photo ID Card
- The PRESTO you actually tap with (physical card or PRESTO in Mobile Wallet)
Here are your common options:
- Update your existing physical PRESTO (most people do this)
- Buy a new physical PRESTO (if you don’t have one or yours is a mess) — TTC lists $4 for a new card
- Use a digital PRESTO (Mobile Wallet) — free to add, but it still needs the post-secondary fare type set
One important thing: you can’t add a student fare type to a contactless credit/debit card tap. If you tap with credit/debit, you’ll be charged an adult fare. Use PRESTO for the student setup.
Read: PRESTO Student Discounts in the GTA + Hamilton
“Did it work?” (check before you leave the store)
Don’t guess. Check your fare type:
- in the PRESTO app / on the PRESTO website (card info/settings), or
- at a PRESTO vending machine in a station
If you’re buying the post-secondary monthly pass right away, verify first — it saves the “why won’t it let me buy the pass?” headache.
Do you even need this yet?
Most of the “wasted trip” stories happen here.
- If you’re 13–19: PRESTO Youth runs until your 20th birthday. You may not need the TTC post-secondary setup yet.
- If you’re 20–64: TTC post-secondary on PRESTO is the relevant setup (as long as you’re a full-time student at an approved school).
Quick math: when the TTC post-secondary pass pays off
Current TTC numbers:
- Adult PRESTO pay-as-you-go: $3.30
- TTC Post-Secondary Monthly Pass: $128.15
Break-even (simple): $128.15 ÷ $3.30 ≈ 39 fares in a month.
So if you’re tapping around 40+ times/month (about 20 round trips), the pass usually starts to make sense.
One more thing that changes the math: TTC’s two-hour transfer means you can re-enter within two hours without paying another fare, which can reduce how many “paid fares” you rack up.
When it doesn’t work
“Shoppers couldn’t do it / didn’t know what I meant.”
Try another Shoppers location. Some stores just deal with PRESTO fare types more often than others. You’re asking to set the PRESTO fare type to Post-Secondary (TTC) and you have the TTC photo ID to prove it.
“I bought the pass but forgot my TTC post-secondary photo ID.”
You’re expected to carry it while using the post-secondary monthly pass.
“It worked last semester and now it doesn’t.”
The TTC post-secondary fare type expires annually on Oct 31, so you have to renew.
Credit: Official TTC
