Besides learning new interesting things, studying in college also teaches you how to use your limited budget to enjoy these years as much as you can. It’s no secret that studying in the UK is rather expensive, especially in terms of the high cost of accommodation, textbooks, and daily essentials.
The good news is that being a student has a bright side – numerous discounts that can save you hundreds of pounds each year. From high street retailers to streaming services, restaurants to college research papers for sale, many businesses have generous offers for students. The key is to know where to look for them and ensure you’re taking full advantage of everything available to you.
No matter if you’re a fresher just starting your university journey or a final-year student looking to maximize your savings, we will help you make the most of your student status whilst it lasts.
Your Essential Discount Toolkit
Looking for and using discounts has many benefits, except for immediate financial relief. For instance, it teaches valuable money management skills that will come in handy after graduation and explains the real value of money. Therefore, there are no reasons why you should ignore student discount platforms UK that have become indispensable for those looking to maximize their savings.
UNiDAYS
This online platform has revolutionized student discounts with its free mobile app and website. After verifying your student status through your university email address, you gain instant access to hundreds of brands, including Nike, Apple, Samsung, and Missguided.
Student Beans
Very similar to UNiDAYS and equally crucial for your list of student discount offers UK, as some brands are exclusive to this platform. What sets Student Beans apart is its focus on lifestyle and entertainment brands, with great offerings in fashion and food delivery. The app also features a rewards programme where you can earn beans (points) for purchases, which you can then redeem for gift cards.
TOTUM
This is the UK’s official student discount card with paid tiers that unlock exclusive in-store deals, essential for the student discount supermarkets UK option at Co-op.
ISIC Card
For students planning to travel internationally, this card is worth considering. Whilst it overlaps with domestic offerings, it provides access to over 150,000 discounts in more than 130 countries. You can benefit from it the most when taking a gap year, studying abroad, or going on holiday.
Active Student Discounts UK 2025
Before we get to a more detailed overview of discounts that you need to keep in mind throughout your student status, here are some of the active ones that you can start using today.
However, don’t forget that November is an excellent month for shopping for two reasons – Singles’ Day and Black Friday. That’s why you should consider holding off on big purchases and waiting for bigger discounts.
Black Friday promotions often start at the beginning of November, or launch with flash sales a week before the main event. The best strategy is to check the retailer’s website, UNiDAYS, and Student Beans frequently throughout the month.
Food and drink
- Domino’s Pizza: get up to 50% off with no minimum spend when verified through Student Beans or UNiDAYS
- Greggs: free sausage roll or sweet treat with their student discount
- KFC: free popcorn snack bucket when you spend £3 or more
- Burger King: free chicken or vegan Royale when you purchase one
Fashion and retail
- ASOS: 10% off year-round when you verify through UNIDAYS, Student Beans, or your university email
- Nike: 10% off for students
- New Look: standard ongoing discount for students of 10-15% off
- Boots: 10% off for students when you link your Boots Advantage Card with a valid Student ID
- Sephora: 15% off for students
Streaming and entertainment
- Spotify Premium Student: £5.99 per month (45% off the regular £10.99 price) after a one-month free trial
- Amazon Prime Student: six-month free trial followed by £4.49 per month (50% off standard membership)
Travel
- FlixBus: 20% off for students
Gym and fitness
- The Gym Group: Up to 25% off memberships for students, plus £10 membership for the first month with no joining fee
- Strava Premium: 30 days free, then 50% off for students at £27.49 per year when you verify student status
Top Offers that Are Available All Year Round
Let’s start with the most valuable student travel discounts UK you can secure, as getting home for the holidays or taking a weekend trip shouldn’t empty your savings:
- 16-25 Railcard. For a small annual fee, you get 1/3 off all train fares across Great Britain. It pays for itself after just a few journeys. (A 26-30 Railcard is also available for mature students who still qualify).
- London transport. If you’re studying in the capital, apply for the 18+ Student Oyster photocard to get 30% off weekly, monthly, and annual Travelcards Passes.
- STA Travel offers student discounts on flights, particularly for long-haul travel. In addition, many airlines, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, offer student fares with extra baggage allowance.
- For travel insurance, companies like Endsleigh and Cover4Insurance offer competitive rates and coverage that focuses specifically on student needs.
Technology and learning resources are often the highest single costs, so here are some tips on how to decrease them:
- Microsoft Office 365. Free access to the essential suite is available to all students with a valid academic email address.
- Adobe Creative Cloud. Students can get a huge reduction, often over 60%, on the full suite, which is vital for any design or creative course materials discount for students UK.
- Music and entertainment. Spotify and other streaming services offer heavily discounted student tariffs, usually for half the standard price.
Oftentimes, it’s the everyday essentials that add up to a considerable sum at the end of each month. Luckily, there are ways to change this picture:
- Go to Co-op and use your TOTUM card in-store to get a consistent 10% off your food shop.
- Go to budget supermarkets. While they don’t offer specific student discount schemes, shopping at Aldi and Lidl remains the simplest hack for keeping costs low.
- Learn the local timings for your nearest supermarket’s “reduced to clear” section. On top of that, shopping late in the evening can yield incredible bargains on ready meals.
- Deliveroo offers various student promotions throughout the year, including free delivery and exclusive discounts through UNiDAYS.
- Costa Coffee offers various student promotions throughout the year, typically 10-15% off.
One of the golden rules every student should remember is that it’s OK to ask whether a company has any student discounts. There might not be any specific information on this topic on their website or in-store, but it doesn’t mean they don’t have special offers.
Final Remarks
Hopefully, using these discounts wisely will be proof that it’s possible to enjoy your university experience without financial stress. After all, you will lose your status as a student within several years, so why not take advantage of these exceptional offers while you still can?
