Career & Earnings Guides UKStudent Discounts Guide UK — Complete List for 2024
Comprehensive guide to UK student discounts. How to get them, where to use them, and the best discounts for food, tech, travel, entertainment, and more.
Student discounts can save hundreds of pounds a year. Here’s everything you need to know.
Getting Student Discount
Verification Methods
| Method | Cost | Requirement |
|---|
| UNiDAYS | Free | University email |
| Student Beans | Free | University email or enrolment proof |
| TOTUM | £14.99-£24.99/year | NUS membership |
| University ID | Free | Physical card |
UNiDAYS
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| Cost | Free |
| How to register | University email address |
| Format | App and website |
| Usage | Online codes, in-store show app |
| Retailers | Over 800 brands |
Student Beans
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| Cost | Free |
| How to register | University email or document upload |
| Format | App and website |
| Usage | Online and in-store |
| Retailers | Similar range to UNiDAYS |
TOTUM (NUS)
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| Cost | £14.99/year (1 year) or £24.99 (with Railcard) |
| What’s included | Physical card, digital card, 1-year Railcard option |
| Extra benefits | More shops than free alternatives |
| Best for | Heavy discount users, train travellers |
Tech Discounts
Apple
| Product | Student Discount |
|---|
| MacBook | Up to £100-£200 off |
| iPad | Up to £40-£80 off |
| Apple Music | 50% off (£5.99/month) |
| How to access | Apple Education Store |
Microsoft
| Product | Student Discount |
|---|
| Microsoft 365 | Often free through university |
| Surface devices | 10% off |
| How to access | Microsoft Education Store |
Amazon
| Product | Student Discount |
|---|
| Prime Student | 50% off (£4.49/month) |
| Includes | 6-month free trial |
| Benefits | Prime delivery, Prime Video, Prime Music |
Software
| Software | Student Offer |
|---|
| Adobe Creative Cloud | ~60% off |
| Spotify Premium | 50% off (£5.99/month) |
| Apple Music | 50% off (£5.99/month) |
| YouTube Premium | Student plan available |
| Notion | Free Pro plan |
| GitHub | Free Pro with Student Developer Pack |
| AutoCAD | Free student licence |
| MATLAB | Often through uni |
Fashion Discounts
High Street
| Retailer | Discount |
|---|
| ASOS | 10% off |
| H&M | 10% off |
| Topshop/Topman | 10% off |
| Urban Outfitters | 10% off |
| New Look | 10% off |
| Boohoo | 10% off |
| Missguided | Variable |
| River Island | 10% off |
| Schuh | 10% off |
Sports/Outdoor
| Retailer | Discount |
|---|
| Nike | 10% off |
| Adidas | Up to 30% off |
| JD Sports | 10% off |
| Sports Direct | 10% (TOTUM) |
| The North Face | 10% off |
| Millets | 10% off |
| Retailer | Discount |
|---|
| OFFICE | 10% off |
| Dr. Martens | 10% off |
| Vans | 10% off |
| Converse | 10% off |
Food and Drink
Fast Food
| Chain | Student Discount |
|---|
| McDonald’s | 10% off (varies) |
| Nando’s | Various deals |
| Domino’s | 35% off online |
| Pizza Hut | Variable deals |
| Subway | 10% off (some) |
| Greggs | 10% off |
| Costa | 10% off |
| Starbucks | None standard |
Restaurants
| Chain | Discount |
|---|
| Ask Italian | 25% off food |
| Zizzi | 25% off food |
| Pizza Express | 25% off food |
| Prezzo | Varies |
Supermarkets
| Supermarket | Student Discount |
|---|
| Aldi | None |
| Lidl | None |
| Tesco | None |
| Sainsbury’s | None |
| Co-op | 10% (NUS/TOTUM members only) |
Travel
Rail
| Offer | Details |
|---|
| 16-25 Railcard | £30/year, 1/3 off fares |
| Include with TOTUM | £24.99 tier includes Railcard |
| 4-year Railcard | £70 (for 3-year+ courses) |
| Savings | Average £269/year |
Coaches
| Company | Discount |
|---|
| National Express | 1/3 off with coachcard (£12.50/year) |
| Megabus | Check offers |
| FlixBus | Occasional offers |
Air Travel
| Airline | Student Offers |
|---|
| STA Travel | Student flight deals |
| StudentUniverse | Student-specific fares |
| Standard airlines | Rarely have student rates |
Entertainment
Streaming
| Service | Student Price |
|---|
| Spotify Premium | £5.99/month (was £11.99) |
| Apple Music | £5.99/month |
| Amazon Prime Video | Included with Prime Student |
| Netflix | No student discount |
| Disney+ | No student discount |
Cinema
| Chain | Student Discount |
|---|
| Odeon | Varies by location |
| Cineworld | Varies |
| Vue | Varies |
| Picturehouse | Often yes |
| Generally | Best to check locally |
Other Entertainment
| Type | Student Offers |
|---|
| Theatre | Many offer standby/student tickets |
| Museums | Many are free |
| Gigs | Some venues offer student nights |
| Gym | Most chains have student membership |
Phone and Broadband
Mobile
| Provider | Student Offer |
|---|
| Voxi | No credit check, flexible |
| giffgaff | Student-friendly, no contract |
| Three | Student deals |
| EE | Occasional offers |
| Compare | Student-specific comparison sites |
Broadband (Shared Houses)
| Provider | Student Deals |
|---|
| Various | 9-month contracts available |
| Student broadband sites | Compare packages |
| Check | Contract length (avoid 12+ months) |
How to Maximise Savings
Before Every Purchase
| Step | Action |
|---|
| 1 | Check UNiDAYS |
| 2 | Check Student Beans |
| 3 | Check TOTUM (if member) |
| 4 | Ask in store |
| 5 | Google “[store] student discount” |
Stacking Discounts
| Strategy | Details |
|---|
| Student discount + sale | Often works |
| Student discount + cashback | Usually works |
| Student discount + voucher code | Sometimes works |
| Check terms | Some exclude combining |
Seasonal Timing
| Event | When to Shop |
|---|
| Freshers’ sales | September |
| Black Friday | November |
| January sales | January |
| End of season | March, September |
Summary: Student Discount Checklist
Set Up
| Task | Done |
|---|
| Register for UNiDAYS | ☐ |
| Register for Student Beans | ☐ |
| Consider TOTUM | ☐ |
| Download apps | ☐ |
| Get 16-25 Railcard | ☐ |
Biggest Savings
| Category | How Much |
|---|
| Spotify/Apple Music | £72/year |
| Amazon Prime | £48/year |
| Railcard | ~£269/year average |
| Adobe | Up to £200/year |
| Food and shopping | £200-£500+/year |
Key Discounts
| Type | Typical Discount |
|---|
| Fashion | 10-15% |
| Tech | 10-60% |
| Streaming | 50% |
| Food | 10-25% |
| Travel | 33% |
Remember
| Tip | Why |
|---|
| Always ask | Even if not advertised |
| Check multiple sources | Different apps have different retailers |
| Student discount + sale | Often best combo |
| Verify before checkout | Make sure code works |
Student discounts are free money — use them on everything you’d buy anyway.
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