Being a student in the UK comes with plenty of perks, and one of the best is access to amazing discounts across countless shops, restaurants, and services. We know that managing your money at uni can be tricky, especially with rising living costs in 2025.
Students can save up to 50% on everything from fashion and days out to food and entertainment with valid student ID or student status verification. These discounts help stretch your student loan further and let you enjoy more experiences during your studies.
We’ve gathered the latest student deals and money-saving tips to help you make the most of your time at university.
From essential course materials to weekend treats, we’ll show you how to access the biggest savings available to UK students.
Why Student Discounts Matter
Student discounts play a key role in making university life more affordable whilst helping students save money on essential items and everyday purchases. These savings add up significantly throughout the academic year.
Stretching Your Budget As A Student
Living on a student budget can be challenging, with costs adding up for accommodation, textbooks, and daily expenses. We’ve found that student discounts help make uni life more manageable.
Many high street shops offer between 10-20% off with a valid student ID, which makes a real difference when buying essentials like clothing and stationery.
Food costs eat up a large portion of student budgets. Supermarkets like Asda and Co-op provide student discount schemes that can save £10-15 per weekly shop.
Transport discounts through railcards and bus passes can cut travel costs by up to 30%, making trips home more affordable.
How Promo Codes Enhance Savings
Promo codes work well alongside student discounts to get bigger savings. We recommend stacking discounts when possible – using both student ID and promo codes together.
Many retailers offer exclusive codes for students during key shopping periods like Freshers’ Week and end-of-term sales.
Tech purchases become much more affordable with student promo codes. Apple offers up to 10% off for students, while Dell and HP provide similar education discounts.
Online shopping codes can reduce costs on everything from takeaways to textbooks. These digital discounts often provide deeper savings than in-store student rates.
Remember to check expiry dates and terms, as student promo codes typically need verification through a university email address.
Best UK Retailers With Student Discounts
UK students can access amazing discounts from numerous popular retailers across multiple categories, with savings ranging from 10% to 50% off regular prices.
Fashion Retailers
ASOS leads the pack with a generous 10% student discount that increases to 20% during special promotion periods. Students need only verify their status through UNiDAYS to start saving.
New Look offers a year-round 10% discount, perfect for building a wardrobe on a budget. Their student discount works both online and in-store.
TopShop and River Island provide 15% off for students, with occasional boosts to 20% during seasonal sales. Both brands require student verification through a valid university email address.
H&M gives students 10% off and extra points on their loyalty programme. The discount applies to sale items too, making it even more valuable for fashion-conscious students.
Technology & Electronics
Currys PC World provides students with up to 10% off laptops, tablets and other tech essentials. The discount varies by product category but typically includes new releases.
Apple offers special education pricing on MacBooks and iPads, with savings of up to £280 on select models. Free AirPods are often included during back-to-school promotions.
Microsoft gives students 10% off Surface devices and accessories. Office 365 is available free for students with a valid academic email address.
Food & Groceries
Co-op rewards students with 10% off groceries when they show a valid student ID. This applies to both branded and own-label products.
Pizza Express gives 30% off food and drink from Sunday to Thursday. Simply show your student ID when dining in.
Domino’s offers 25% off orders over £25 when ordered online with a validated student account.
Many local cafes near universities provide 10-15% discounts – it’s worth asking at your favourite spots.
Travel & Transportation
National Express coaches offer a Young Persons Coachcard for £12.50 annually, giving 1/3 off standard fares.
16-25 Railcard saves students 1/3 on rail travel across Britain. The card costs £30 per year but can save hundreds for regular travellers.
National Rail allows students to add their Railcard to their digital wallet for easy access.
Many local bus companies provide student passes at reduced rates – check with your local transport authority for specific deals.
How To Access These Discounts
Getting student discounts is quick and easy with several reliable methods to verify your student status and start saving money straight away.
Register With Student Discount Platforms
UNiDAYS offers a free student verification service. Simply sign up using your university email address and complete their verification process to access exclusive deals.
Student Beans works similarly – create an account with your student email and verify your status through their platform. They’ll send a confirmation link to your inbox.
The TOTUM card (formerly NUS Extra) is available for £14.99 per year. It provides both digital and physical proof of your student status, accepted by hundreds of retailers across the UK.
Use Promo Codes At Checkout
Most retailers will display a student discount code entry box at checkout. Look for “promo code” or “discount code” fields during payment.
Your verification code from UNiDAYS or Student Beans can be copied directly into these boxes. Codes typically start with “STU” or “UNI”.
Some shops might ask you to verify through a pop-up window before applying the discount. This usually takes less than a minute.
Check Retailer Websites Directly
Many shops have dedicated student sections on their websites. Look for a “Student Discount” link, usually found in the footer or main menu.
Some retailers offer instant verification through their own systems. You’ll need to register with your university email address.
Apprentices can often access these same discounts. Many platforms now recognise apprenticeship credentials alongside traditional student IDs.
Remember to keep your student status up-to-date on these platforms. Most require annual re-verification to maintain access to discounts.
Tips For Maximising Your Student Savings
Student discounts can save you extra money throughout your studies when you know the best ways to use them. We’ve gathered proven strategies to help you get the most value from your student status.
Combine Discounts And Cashback
Always check if you can stack multiple discounts together. Your student discount often works alongside other promotions and voucher codes.
Many shops let you use your student discount with existing sales items. This can get you massive savings, especially on big-ticket purchases like laptops or clothing.
Don’t forget to use cashback sites before making purchases. Register your student status with these sites to unlock exclusive cashback rates on top of your standard student discount.
Look For Seasonal Sales
The biggest student savings often come during key shopping periods. Watch for Back to School sales in September, Black Friday in November, and Boxing Day sales.
Many retailers offer enhanced student discounts during these peak times. Keep an eye out for double discount days where your standard student saving gets boosted.
Create a wishlist of items you need and wait for these prime shopping periods. This strategy works particularly well for expensive items like electronics and textbooks.
Sign Up For Newsletters
Subscribe to your favourite brands’ student newsletters to get early access to sales and exclusive student-only deals.
Many shops send special discount codes to their mailing list subscribers. These codes often provide better savings than the standard student discount.
Keep your student email address active, as many retailers send targeted offers specifically to .ac.uk addresses. Create a separate folder in your inbox to keep track of the best deals.
Pro tip: Follow your favourite brands on social media too. They sometimes share student-exclusive flash sales that aren’t advertised elsewhere.
Final Remarks
Student discounts provide amazing opportunities to save money while studying in the UK. From shopping and entertainment to travel and technology, there are fantastic deals available across countless categories.
We recommend signing up for your university’s student ID and downloading relevant discount apps to maximise your savings potential. Many retailers offer year-round student discounts of 10-20% both in-store and online.
Don’t forget to check the terms and conditions, as some discounts require validation of student status each year. It’s worth taking a few minutes to register for these programmes since the savings really add up over your time at university.
Making the most of student discounts lets you enjoy more experiences and get more in your budget. With careful planning and smart shopping, you can save hundreds of pounds each term on everyday purchases and special treats.
The student years are the perfect time to develop good money-saving habits that will serve you well after graduation. We encourage you to explore all the brilliant student discounts available to you across the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
Student discounts in the UK offer multiple savings through various cards, retailers, online platforms, and essential services. We’ve gathered answers to common questions about accessing these money-saving opportunities.
How can I sign up for a student discount card in the UK?
Getting a student discount card is straightforward. You’ll need to provide proof of enrolment from your university or college, along with a valid email address ending in .ac.uk.
Many students start with TOTUM, the card from the National Union of Students. Simply visit their website, verify your student status, and pay a small fee for a one-year, two-year, or three-year membership.
Which retailers offer the best discounts for students in the UK?
Apple offers up to 10% off on MacBooks and iPads for students. ASOS gives 10% off year-round, boosting to 20% during special events.
Nike provides 10% off trainers and sportswear, while Samsung offers up to 30% off electronics and mobile phones.
What exactly is UNiDAYS and how does it work with student discounts?
UNiDAYS is a free digital platform that verifies your student status. Sign up with your university email address to access exclusive discounts.
Once verified, you can browse discounts directly through their website or app. Many shops will ask you to generate a unique code through UNiDAYS at checkout.
Are there any specific discounts available for UK students on high street fashion brands?
H&M offers 10% off in-store and online with student verification. Topshop and Topman provide 10% discounts year-round.
River Island gives students 15% off, while New Look offers 10% off full-price items.
How can students in the UK get discounts on online streaming services?
Amazon Prime offers a six-month free trial followed by 50% off the regular subscription price for students.
Spotify combines with SHOWTIME and Hulu for a discounted entertainment package. YouTube Premium provides a student plan at half the standard price.
Is it possible for students to receive discounts on healthcare services like the NHS?
Students can access free NHS prescriptions and dental treatment with a valid HC2 certificate through the NHS Low Income Scheme.
Many opticians offer student discounts on eye tests and glasses. Boots provides 10% off healthcare items with a valid student ID.
