What is the U-Pass?

The U-Pass is a Universal Transit Pass which provides unlimited access to Winnipeg Transit transportation services in exchange for a mandatory fee. It is a program offered by the City of Winnipeg, facilitated by UMSU – as well as the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association for students at the UofW – in which all full-time students within the Winnipeg Transit service area pay a subsidized bus pass fee and have unlimited access to transit from September to April the following year. It has been in existence since being approved in 2016 referendum, and the first contract expired at the end of the 2019/2020 academic year. After a referendum, UMSU’s Board of Directors officially voted to save the U-Pass program, and will continue to operate.

To read about the 2020 referendum click here, and to see the poll results click here.

*Note: The Fall Term U-Pass is valid September 1 – December 31. The Winter Term U-Pass is valid January 1 – April 30. Currently, there is no Spring/Summer U-Pass.

How much is the U-Pass?

The U-Pass is Term-based, there is a Fall U-Pass and a Winter U-Pass, at the current rate of $215.60 per term. This is applied directly to the accounts of undergraduate students enrolled in a minimum of nine credit hours in a term, and is payable along with tuition. To see whether you are eligible for the U-Pass, check your Aurora account summary by term and look at the detailed cost breakdown for the Term to see the U-Pass fee; if it is there, you can pick up your U-Pass.

When did the U-Pass Begin?

UMSU members voted in a referendum in Fall 2014 to approve a mandatory U-Pass for all full-time students. City Council officially approved the implementation of the U-Pass in March 2015. The U-Pass program officially launched in Winnipeg in September 2016.

Where to get a U-Pass?

You can visit us at the UMSU Service Centre or Answers Bannatyne during our business hours to pick up your U-Pass. Please bring your student ID with you.

Additional Information

You can use your U-Pass to ride Winnipeg Transit buses for the entirety of the Term in which you are eligible, without additional fares. Note: Your Student ID with the U-Pass sticker is required, along with the U-Pass when boarding a Transit bus to utilize the U-Pass.  If the appropriate Student ID is not presented, students risk confiscation of their U-Pass.

Students are not to sell, barter or give away their U-Pass, as the penalty could be confiscation of the U-Pass and possible fines.

Note: Post-Secondary Monthly Transit passes and other Winnipeg Transit fare products will continue to be sold at both the UMSU Service Centre & Answers Bannatyne. If you are experiencing issues purchasing a Post-Secondary Peggo card from the UMSU Service Centre, please check with the Registrar’s Office to confirm your eligibility, as students must be registered in order to receive the student rate.

Who is Automatically Assessed the U-Pass fee?

Full time Students

Only full-time students – students enrolled in at least nine (9) credit hours in a Term* – who are members of UMSU or the Graduate Students’ Association are eligible for the U-Pass**.

*If all your classes are Distance Education courses you will not be assessed the U-Pass fee.

**Please note that the criteria for full-time status for graduate students differs from undergraduate students.

• • Visit the GSA website here for more information.   

Who Can Opt-In?

Co-Op Students

Students on co-op placements can choose to opt-in to the U-Pass, but it will not be processed automatically in your tuition. Find out about the Opt-In process for co-op students here.

Registered with Student Accessibility Services

Students registered with student accessibility services with at least 6 credit hours this term may opt in to the U-Pass, but it will not be processed automatically on your tuition. Find out about the opt-in process here

Exchange Visiting Students

Exchange Visiting Students registered in 9 credit hours this term may opt-in to the U-Pass. Click here to learn how.

General Studies Extended Education Students

Extended Education students taking General Studies and registered in at least 9 credit hours this Term

*this is the ONLY Extended Education program eligible for the U-Pass*

Letter of Permission

Letter of Permission student registered in at least 9 credit hours this Term

Practicum Students

Practicum students registered in at least 9 credit hours this Term

To see if you are eligible to opt-in to the U-Pass visit our opt-in page here.

*ICM, Extended Education, Part Time Students, and some other programs are not eligible for the U-Pass. Please check your Account Summary by Term on Aurora to confirm if you have been charged the U-Pass fee.

When can I opt-out?

The U-Pass Opt-Out Period for the Fall term is Aug. 25 2023 to Sept. 20 2023.

The U-Pass Opt-Out Period for the Winter term is Dec. 26 2023 to Jan 23 2024.

Note: if you get approved to opt-out of the U-Pass under the category that you commute from outside the city, your opt-out is valid for the whole academic year. You will not have to opt-out again in the winter term. The U-Pass fee will be removed from your tuition after the revision deadline. Please allow for 5-7 business days after the revision deadline to see the fee removed. If you would like to pay your tuition before that date you can pay your tuition minus the U-Pass fee.

*If you are paying your tuition minus the U-Pass fee, make sure your opt-out request has been approved first! 

Who can opt-out?

In order to successfully opt-out, you must meet and be able to provide appropriate supporting documentation for one of the following criteria:

• Commute from a residence outside the City of Winnipeg boundaries throughout the Term
• Registered with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind
• Employee of Winnipeg Transit
• Participating in a practicum placement outside the city for at least 60 days during the Term
• Studying outside Canada for at least 60 days during the Term
• Participating in an internship or conducting research outside the City of Winnipeg boundaries for at least 60 days during the Term
• Hold a valid U-Pass from another Post-Secondary Institution within Winnipeg
• A registered Handi-Transit user

Please visit the opt-out page here to see the required documentation and find the opt-out form. 

Some students do not automatically receive a U-Pass, but are eligible to opt in with appropriate documentation. If you choose to opt in, you will have to visit the UMSU Service Centre and pay directly to us.

You may be eligible to opt in to get a U-Pass in the following circumstances:

• Co-op student for the Term (assessed Co-op fees)
• Exchange visiting student registered in at least 9 credit hours this Term
• Extended Education student taking General Studies and registered in at least 9 credit hours this Term *this is the ONLY EE program eligible for the U-Pass*
• Letter of Permission student registered in at least 9 credit hours this Term
• Practicum student registered in at least 9 credit hours this Term
• Registered with Student Accessibility Services in a reduced course load, with at least 6 credit hours this Term

*Note, If you are not assessed Student Organization Fees on your tuition fee statement, it may not be worth opting-in to the U-Pass program, and you may opt to purchase a semester pass offered by Winnipeg Transit instead.*

Please visit our opt-in page here to see if you are eligible and what documentation you will need.

About the U-Pass

About the Post-Secondary Peggo Card

Where to get a U-Pass or Post-Secondary Peggo card

Opt-Out

More questions or having trouble with your Peggo card?

Contact us or come visit us at the UMSU Service Centre!

Hours of Operation:   

Monday to Friday– 8:00am to 4:30pm   

Location:   

First floor of University Centre  

Room 101                             

Contact:     

Email: umsu@umsu.ca           

Phone: 204-474-8211