What is a U-Pass?
The Universal Transit Pass (U-Pass) is an initiative of the Students' Union and the Graduate Students' Association, the local transit authorities (Cities of Edmonton and St. Albert and County of Strathcona) and the University of Alberta to deliver affordable and sustainable transit to the students of the University of Alberta. In 2007, students of the University voted to accept a mandatory fee assessment for the U-Pass.
A U-Pass is a valid sticker affixed to your student ONEcard.
Get Your U-Pass
U-Pass stickers can be picked up during regular InfoLink operating hours (View the InfoLink website for times and locations.)
How does the U-Pass program work?
U-Pass is a group discount program, which lowers the cost of transit for University of Alberta students.
The U-Pass program is available for all students, graduate and undergraduate, registered in classes in the Fall, Winter and Spring/Summer Terms. The U-Pass is much lower than the cost of purchasing monthly passes for the same period of time because costs are spread over a large participant base.
U-Pass fees are collected by the University and transferred to transit providers to help fund the transit service.
Who is eligible for U-Pass?
All students registered on-campus in at least one for-credit course at the University of Alberta Edmonton Campuses during the Fall, Winter and/or Spring/Summer term will be assessed the U-Pass fee.
The following students are exempt from the U-Pass:
- Students at Augustana
- Students enrolled only in the Executive MBA program
- Graduate students designated as Off-campus Thesis students
- Faculty of Extension Students (including those in the English Language Program)
Students who are exempt from the U-Pass program are not eligible to opt-in.
How much does U-Pass Cost?
The cost for the U-Pass for Fall 2015, Winter 2016 and Spring/Summer 2016 will be as follows for all undergraduate and graduate students:
2015/16: $162.50 less the University subsidy of $27.08 = $135.42 per term.
Special Note: Graduate Student Spring/Summer U-Pass
Graduate students in course-based Master's programs, who have Spring/Summer course registration(s), will be assessed the Spring/Summer U-Pass fee in one of the registered terms.
Graduate students in thesis-based Master's programs and PhD programs, who have Winter term course and/or thesis registration(s) are considered as active students through Spring/Summer terms, and therefore will be assessed the Spring/Summer U-Pass fee in the Winter term.
The following fee assessment guide applies to graduate students:
| |
Course-based
Master's |
Thesis-based Master's and PhD |
| Fall 2015 (September - December) |
–
|
–
|
| Winter 2016 (January - April) |
–
|
$270.84 |
|
Spring/Summer 2016 (May - August)
|
$135.42
|
|
How much does it cost to take transit without the U-Pass Program?
| Edmonton Transit (4 months) |
Strathcona Transit (4 months)
|
St. Albert Transit (4 months)
|
Adult pass $356
|
Adult pass $412
|
Adult pass $444
|
Post-secondary pass $324
|
Post-secondary pass $372
|
Post-secondary pass $390
|
Who can apply for an exemption to the U-Pass?
Students can apply for an exemption to the U-Pass as per the following:
If you fall into one of the categories listed below, you can apply for an exemption to the U-Pass by visiting the Student Access Centre on the main floor of the Administration Building:
- An employee of one of the participating transit systems,
- A student with a valid disabled transit registration,
- A student with a valid CNIB registration card,
- A student also registered at either NAIT or MacEwan University, or
- A thesis student conducting research out of the transit service area for more than 2 months of the term (you must bring a letter from your supervisor confirming this).
If you are a student on a co-op or work experience program and your placement is outside of the transit service area, please go to your co-op or work experience office to apply for an exemption to the U-Pass.
The deadline to apply for an exemption is the end of the term; December 31 for the Fall term, April 30 for the Winter term and August 31 for the Spring/Summer term.
If you intend to apply for an exemption please do not pick-up your U-Pass sticker.
What does U-Pass look like?
The U-Pass sticker is available to eligible students each Fall term (September 1 – December 31), Winter term (January 1 – April 30) and Spring/Summer term (May 1 – August 31).
The U-Pass sticker will be affixed to your ONEcard at the time of issue.
What can I ride with U-Pass?
The U-Pass is valid any time, anywhere on regular ETS, St. Albert Transit and Strathcona County, like a four-month bus pass for all three transit systems.
The U-Pass excludes St. Albert Transit Handibus and Strathcona County Transit SCAT disabled adult transit services. ETS will accept U-Pass on DATS.
Non-regular charter and special event services are excluded. Contracted services operated by ETS, St. Albert Transit and Strathcona County Transit for outlying communities such as service to Morinville, Beaumont, Fort Saskatchewan and Spruce Grove are also excluded.
Frequently Asked Questions about U-Pass
How can I claim the Federal Tax Credit?
U-Pass fees are eligible to claim for the Federal Transit Tax credit. U-Pass receipts are available to student on Bear Tracks for tax purposes.
Can I use the U-Pass for Spring/Summer terms?
- All undergraduate students registered in EITHER a Spring or a Summer term class will be assessed the U-Pass fee.
- Students registered in both Spring and Summer terms may notice that they are assessed the U-Pass fee twice. This double assessment will be corrected automatically after the Spring Add/Delete deadline. No further action is required.
- Students registered in a Spring or Summer class are able to pick up the Spring/Summer U-Pass sticker starting April 13, 2015. The pass is valid May 1 - August 31.
How are fees collected from me?
If you want to confirm that you are assessed the U-Pass fee, please check your Account Details or Fee Assessment in Bear Tracks for the appropriate terms. You can find these under the Financials Menu.
The fees for the U-Pass will be assessed for each Fall, Winter and Spring/Summer term that a student is registered and will be reported on your fee assessment on Bear Tracks.
The opt-out deadline for the U-Pass is the end of the term; December 31 for the Fall term, April 30 for the Winter term and August 31 for Spring/Summer term.
What can I ride with the U-Pass?
The U-Pass is valid any time, anywhere on regular ETS, St. Albert Transit and Strathcona County, like a four month bus pass for all three transit systems.
The U-Pass excludes St. Albert Transit Handibus and Strathcona County Transit SCAT disabled adult transit services. ETS will accept U-Pass on DATS.
Non-regular charter and special event services are excluded. Contracted services operated by ETS, St. Albert Transit and Strathcona County Transit for outlying communities such as service to Morinville, Beaumont, Fort Saskatchewan and Spruce Grove are also excluded.
Why is the U-Pass mandatory?
The U-Pass mandatory fee was overwhelmingly endorsed by University of Alberta students through referenda in 2007, 2010 and 2013. 2010 marked the end of a 3-year pilot project.
A universal participation base is fundamental to the U-Pass concept, allowing the costs of transit service to be spread across a large population. Student buying power is also increased when pooled, which helps further bring the price down. To ensure that the U-Pass price remains low, all full-time and part-time on-campus students must be part of the program.