The implementation of a student-discounted annual ticket is a step towards making Tampere more student-friendly, and the budget proposal published today by Mayor Ilmari Nurminen includes the student-priced annual ticket! The Student Union of Tampere University and the Students’ Union of Tampere University of Applied Sciences have advocated a student-priced annual ticket for several years. Finally, our persistent advocacy work has borne fruit!
“There have been drastic cuts in student income in recent years. At the same time, the increasing cost of living has hurt many a student’s wallet. Acknowledging the students’ declining financial situation also in the public transport in Tampere supports the everyday lives of students and shows that the city of Tampere is willing to contribute to building a student-friendly city. We wish to express our gratitude for the realisation of the student-priced annual ticket!” states Chair of the Executive Board of the Student Union of Tampere University Tami Nordström.
We have carried out advocacy efforts with all our might, and that might was strengthened in spring 2026, when the Student Union of Tampere University and the Students’ Union of Tampere University of Applied Sciences conducted a public transport survey for students with a total of 1646 respondents. A significant proportion of the students who responded to the survey had been forced to cut down on their use of public transport due to their financial situation. This was emphasised once the youth ticket age limit had been exceeded. Reasonably priced and accessible public transport supports the everyday lives of students.
Currently, the Tampere public transport services divide students into two tiers. Young people under the age of 25 can use the youth annual ticket, which costs 320 euros. For students over the age of 25, the only option available is the adult annual ticket, which costs 460 euros. The student annual ticket must level the two-tier situation for students and enable affordable public transport also for students over the age of 25.
“It is great that the City of Tampere is following through on its promises and taking concrete action to be the number one city for students. Consulting students in the development of public transport increases the students’ opportunities to move around in their hometown. The implementation of the annual ticket is one step on this path, and now we hope the price will be reasonable enough for students to genuinely benefit from the introduction of the ticket”, outlines Chairperson of the Students’ Union of Tampere University of Applied Sciences Saara Ahola.
What happens next?
Tampere Mayor Ilmari Nurminen presented the 2027 budget on 19 October 2026, and the implementation of a student-priced annual ticket was also mentioned in the presentation. The student annual ticket is intended to come into effect in January 2027. The implementation of an annual public transport ticket for students has also been included in Nurminen’s mayoral programme. The City Council of Tampere decides on the 2027 budget on 16 November 2026. The decisions on the ticket prices in public transport are made by the Tampere City Regional Public Transport Committee.
Additional information:
Tami Nordström, Chair of the Board of the Student Union of Tampere University (tami.nordstrom@trey.fi, +358 50 361 2845)
Saara Ahola, Chairperson of the Students’ Union of Tampere University of Applied Sciences (chairperson@tamko.fi, + 358 44 082 6560)