YEARS of catching public transport on the cheap are about to end for southeast Queensland tertiary students as the State Government moves to stop a long-running fare rort.

Since 2007, uni students have been able to get a five-year concessional Go Card simply by flashing a student card.

The cards were only supposed to be used by full-time tertiary goers but because they were valid for five years, they tended to be used after the owner left or deferred university - giving them access to half-price public transport fares.

The rort is believed to have cost taxpayers as much as $8 million a year, and now Transport Minister Scott Emerson has decided enough is enough.

From next month, students will have to download a form from the internet then have their status as full-time students verified by a university in order to qualify for a 12-month Tertiary Transport Concession Card (TTCC).

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Mr Emerson conceded it was adding a small amount of "red tape" to the system but said the TTCC was already used in regional Queensland and interstate.

"We will not stand for people cheating the system and ripping off honest users," he said.

"It's a problem that was ignored by Labor but the Newman Government would prefer to spend that money on driving down the cost of fares.

"Tertiary and post-secondary students will need to present the TTCC to receive the 50 per cent discount off public transport fares."

Universities had been informed of the change this week, and students will be given a six-month fine amnesty to get used to the new system, Mr Emerson said.

"From now until June 30 there will be a transitional period where no fines are issued for failing to carry the TTCC and Senior Network Officers will be educating students about the new cards," he said.

Students must submit their application form to TransLink which will mail the new card within 15 business days.

Part-time students and those who study externally, or at unrecognised institutions are not be eligible for concessional fares.

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