The ultimate CU commuter hack: OPUS Card
Why you should get an OPUS card and my experience with using public transit to get to campus
Diarra Diop is an undergraduate student in BComm, Major in international business. Diarra is also a Welcome Crew mentor.
Montreal is such a big city with so many things to see and as much as we all love a good walk or a bike ride, it can be inaccessible to walk if you live far from campus! It's also a pain if you don’t have a car or the wallet space for a consistent Uber ride (because who does?) but that’s why it’s key to get your OPUS card so that you can see the city and commute to campus with one tap.
Your OPUS card allows you to use the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) which makes getting from point A to point B much more seamless.
Things to remember and do before getting your OPUS card
Don't make my mistake and make sure to have these things sorted before you can be eligible for the reduced-fare OPUS photo-ID card:
- You will need to be enrolled in full-time studies (at least 12 credits). Note that wait-listed courses do not count towards enrollment.
- You must have a home address in Quebec and it needs to be updated in your Student Centre.
If you're ordering your card online:
- You need to have your student ID card which you can only get one month before the start of your first term. You can submit a request 24 hours after the university issues your student ID card.
If you're getting your card in-person:
You need to request an OPUS attestation letter. Here are your steps on how to get one:
- Log into your Student Hub, and click on "Student Centre"
- Expand the "Academics" tab on the right hand side, and select “Attestation Letters” from the drop-down menu.
- Select "Language" that you need the letter in (English or French), your "Academic Career" that applies to your studies at Concordia (undergrad, graduate..etc)
- Select "OPUS Attestation" and the upcoming term, click continue.
- On the next page, click on "View Report" button for the letter to be generated and you're good to go!
Ways to get your OPUS card made
I’m from Senegal, where the transportation system requires daily purchase of tickets. So, when I first came to Montreal it took some time to fully grasp how to set up and use my OPUS card.
If you're in the same boat, there are two ways to obtain an OPUS card:
Online (my preferred method):
Getting the card delivered saves you from waiting in line, especially for those of you who are new to Montreal and are not as familiar with getting around yet. If you’re ordering yours while you’re still abroad, you need to have a Montreal address to get it delivered.
- Use your Concordia netname and password to log into your CU account.
- Click on the “OPUS card” box, follow the steps indicated, pay a $15 and you will receive your card in the mail in 2-7 business days.
In-person at Berri-UQAM station:
Book an appointment with the SMT photo studio at Berri-UQAM metro station to have your OPUS card made. You will need to present a proof of age and will be charged $15 fee (cash or debit only) to issue the card.
Pro tip: sometimes the STM staff may ask you to generate your letter of attestation again on site for additional verifications, so make sure you know your Student Centre login!
How to reload your card
When your monthly pass is up, take your OPUS card into any Métro station and use the machines located near the entrance or wait in line to speak with the clerk to reload funds onto your card. The machine will indicate the steps that need to be taken in French or English and once you follow them, voila! You now have reloaded your OPUS card.
Things I learned the hard way
If you know you'll be on campus often or going around more, it's best to load a monthly pass onto your card (aka taking advantage of the reduced fare price!). There are also options to only load a day pass or week pass as well!
One thing I learned recently is that the price will also depend on what zone you are located in. Most Concordia students are located in Zone A as it is relatively close to campus, but some students may live farther out in the city. The farther out of the downtown area you are, the closer to Zone B you will be which means that when you purchase your pass you will have to pay an additional fee for a Zone A and B pass.
Another tip I learned the hard way is that fares are activated on the first day of the month following your purchase. For example, let’s say you purchase one on the 15th of August, you will then need to reload it on the 1st of the upcoming month as it does not last for a month from whenever you purchased the monthly pass.