Student life comes with rising costs. Rents and food prices are increasing, stretching maintenance loans thinner than ever.
Key Discount Platforms
Three major platforms offer student savings: UNiDAYS, Student Beans, and TOTUM.
Each has a different range of retailers. Signing up with your university email is the first step.
Verification is required to unlock deals. Some sites allow uploading documents like an acceptance letter.
Food and Essentials
- Boots: The Advantage Card gives 10% off products. You must activate it in-store with a valid student ID.
- Marks & Spencer: Offers 25% off in-store food on the ‘food on the move’ range — including sandwiches, wraps, poké bowls, and snacks.
- The Co-op: Provides 10% off in-store shopping. Availability is limited to students with specific cards like Young Scot.
- Uber One: After a four-week free trial, students get half-price membership at £2.49 per month. This offers discounted delivery and takeaways.
Tech and Subscriptions
- Amazon Prime for Students: New sign-ups get six months free. After that, it drops to £4.49 per month.
- Deliveroo Plus: Linking Amazon and Deliveroo accounts through UNiDAYS gives a full year of free delivery on orders over £15 (from restaurants) or £25 (from shops).
- Kindle Unlimited: Claim 30 days free via UNiDAYS — useful for clearing reading lists without buying textbooks.
- Microsoft 365: Many universities offer free access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook through their IT departments. Check with your institution.
- Spotify Premium: One month free, then £5.99 per month — about half the standard price.
- Apple Education Pricing: Students with a UNiDAYS account get discounts on MacBooks and other devices.
- Microsoft: Up to 15% off laptops and accessories when bought directly.
- Adobe Creative Cloud: Students on creative courses get a 75% saving — from £66.49 to £16.24 per month.
Gyms and Fitness
- The Gym Group and Fitness First: Both offer up to 25% off via student discount sites.
- Strava: 30 days of premium free, then 50% off — bringing the annual cost to £27.49.
- University gyms: Often cheaper than commercial gyms. The BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) UNIversal Gym scheme allows free access to any participating gym — useful when visiting friends or campuses.
Travel Options
- FlixBus: 20% off fares via UNiDAYS and Student Beans.
- National Express: Up to 20% off coach tickets through UNiDAYS, Student Beans, and TOTUM.
- 16-25 Railcard: Offers one-third off most rail fares. Students can get a free four-year card by opening a Santander Edge student current account. Alternatively, Student Beans and UNiDAYS offer 15% off the card — typically £35 per year.
Fashion and Retail
- Asos and Nike: Offer 10% off via UNiDAYS, Student Beans, and TOTUM.
- JD Sports: Offers 20% off.
- Urban Outfitters: Provides 10% off all year-round for students.
Always carry proof of student status — a university ID, or a discount card from one of the platforms.
Many independent shops and cafes offer student discounts. They may not advertise them. Ask if you’re unsure.
For more on student finance and spending, see The Guardian’s guide on student money and free perks.
These savings are real and widely available. They help students manage rising living costs without cutting back on essentials.
Sources & further reading
AI-generated illustration.
