Student discounts can save you hundreds of pounds every year, but many students only scratch the surface. This guide covers every major student discount available in the UK, how to access them, and how to save over £500 annually.
How Student Discounts Work
Most student discounts require proof of your student status. In the UK, three main verification methods exist:
- TOTUM card (formerly NUS Extra) — the physical student discount card accepted in-store and online
- UNiDAYS — free digital student verification used by hundreds of online retailers
- Student Beans — another free digital platform for online student discounts
Some retailers accept a valid student ID card directly. Always carry your university ID and check before paying.
What You Need
TOTUM Card (Formerly NUS Extra)
The TOTUM card is the official UK student discount card. It costs £12 for one year or £22 for two years.
What you get:
- Discounts at hundreds of high-street and online retailers
- A free 4-year digital TOTUM card included
- 10% off at ASOS (often rises to 20% during promotions)
- Discounts at McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Subway
- Cinema discounts at Odeon, Vue, and Cineworld
- 10–15% off at Co-op and select supermarkets
- Technology discounts at Apple, Dell, and HP
- Fashion discounts at New Look, Burton, Miss Selfridge, and更多
How to get it:
- Go to totum.com
- Verify your student status with your university email
- Pay £12 for one year
- Receive a digital card instantly and a physical card by post
At £12 per year, the TOTUM card pays for itself within a few purchases.
UNiDAYS
UNiDAYS is free to join and verify. It is primarily used for online shopping discounts.
How to sign up:
- Download the UNiDAYS app or visit unidays.com
- Sign up with your university email address
- Verify your student status
- Browse available discounts or search for specific retailers
Student Beans
Student Beans works similarly to UNiDAYS and is free to use.
How to sign up:
- Download the Student Beans app or visit studentbeans.com
- Create an account with your university email
- Verify your student status
- Access discounts online and in the app
Major Student Discounts
Technology
| Retailer | Discount | How to Access |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Education | Up to 10% off Macs and iPads + free Apple Music for 3 months | Apple Education Store (verify with student email) |
| Microsoft | Free Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) | Sign in with student email at microsoft.com |
| Spotify | 50% off Premium (£5.99/month instead of £11.99) | Spotify student plan (verify via SheerID) |
| Amazon Prime Student | 50% off Prime for 4 years (£4.49/month instead of £8.99) | Sign up with student email at amazon.co.uk/student |
| Samsung | Up to 20% off via Samsung Education Store | Verify with UNiDAYS or Student Beans |
| Dell | Up to 20% off laptops and accessories | Dell Education Store |
Amazon Prime Student is one of the best value student discounts. At £4.49 per month (or £47 per year) instead of £8.99 per month (£108 per year), you save £61 annually. The plan lasts up to four years and includes free delivery, Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Reading.
Free Microsoft Office is available at most UK universities. Sign in with your student email at office.com or download the desktop apps. This alone saves £80–£100 per year compared to a personal Microsoft 365 subscription.
Fashion and Retail
| Retailer | Discount | How to Access |
|---|---|---|
| ASOS | 10–20% off | TOTUM card or UNiDAYS |
| New Look | 10% off | TOTUM card |
| Burton | 10% off | TOTUM card |
| Miss Selfridge | 10% off | TOTUM card |
| Topshop | 10% off | UNiDAYS |
| boohoo | Up to 30% off | UNiDAYS |
| PrettyLittleThing | Up to 30% off | UNiDAYS |
| Adidas | Up to 35% off | UNiDAYS |
| Nike | Up to 10% off | UNiDAYS |
| Reiss | 20% off | UNiDAYS |
| Levi’s | 20% off | Student Beans |
ASOS is a go-to for most students. The standard 10% discount via TOTUM often increases to 20% during back-to-school and seasonal promotions. On a £100 order, that is £10–£20 saved.
Food and Dining
| Retailer | Discount | How to Access |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald’s | Free item with meal purchase (varies) | TOTUM card or UNiDAYS |
| KFC | Free side or drink with meal | TOTUM card |
| Pizza Hut | 20–30% off food | TOTUM card |
| Subway | Free upgrade or discount | UNiDAYS |
| Domino’s | 25–35% off orders | Student Beans |
| Burger King | Free item with meal | TOTUM card |
| Prezzo | 20% off | TOTUM card |
| Wagamama | 20% off (at select locations) | TOTUM card |
These discounts add up quickly if you eat out regularly. A 20% discount on a £25 meal for two at Pizza Hut saves you £5.
Entertainment
| Venue | Discount | How to Access |
|---|---|---|
| Odeon | £1–£3 off tickets (or student screening nights from £2.50) | TOTUM card or student ID |
| Vue | Student pricing from £4.99–£6.99 | Student ID or TOTUM |
| Cineworld | Student discount on tickets | TOTUM card |
| The Vue | Student nights from £2.50–£4.99 | Check local listings |
| Amazon Prime Video | Included with Prime Student | Amazon Prime Student |
| Apple Music | £5.99/month (50% off) | Student plan via Apple |
Travel
| Service | Discount | How to Access |
|---|---|---|
| 16–25 Railcard | 1/3 off all train fares | railcard.co.uk (£30/year) |
| 26–30 Railcard | 1/3 off all train fares | railcard.co.uk (£30/year) |
| National Express | Up to 30% off coach travel | Student ID or TOTUM |
| Megabus | Fares from £1 | Book online with student ID |
| Eurolines | Student discounts on European coaches | TOTUM card |
| Student Oyster | 30% off Travelcards in London | Student Oyster card |
16–25 Railcard costs £30 per year and gives you 1/3 off all train fares. If you spend just £90 per year on trains, the card pays for itself. For students commuting weekly, the savings can exceed £200 per year.
Student Oyster in London gives you 30% off monthly and annual Travelcards. A Zone 1–2 annual Travelcard drops from £1,608 to £1,126 — saving £482 per year.
Gyms and Fitness
| Gym | Student Discount | How to Access |
|---|---|---|
| Pure Gym | Student membership from £14.99/month | Direct sign-up |
| Nuffield Health | Student rates available | Inquire at local gym |
| University gym | Typically 50–70% cheaper than commercial gyms | Your university |
| Virgin Active | Student membership discounts | TOTUM card |
University gyms are almost always the cheapest option, often £100–£200 per year compared to £300–£500 at commercial gyms.
Other Perks
- Spotify Premium: £5.99/month instead of £11.99 (50% off, save £72/year)
- Apple Music: £5.99/month instead of £10.99 (save £60/year)
- The Guardian: Free student digital access
- The Times: Discounted student digital subscription
- National Trust: Free or discounted entry at some properties
- Museum entry: Most UK museums are free, but student discounts apply for special exhibitions
- Software: Free or discounted access to Adobe Creative Cloud, JetBrains, and more through your university
How to Verify Your Student Status
Most online discounts require digital verification. Here is how each platform works:
UNiDAYS Verification
- Create an account at unidays.com with your university email
- UNiDAYS sends a verification email to your student address
- Click the link to confirm — your account is verified instantly
- Use the UNiDAYS app or website to browse and access discounts
Student Beans Verification
- Sign up at studentbeans.com with your university email
- Student Beans sends a verification link to your student email
- Click the link to complete verification
- Access discounts through the app or website
In-Store Verification
For physical stores, carry your:
- University student ID card — most retailers accept this
- TOTUM card — the official discount card
- UNiDAYS or Student Beans app — show your digital student status at the till
Always ask if a student discount is available, even if it is not advertised. Many retailers offer unadvertised discounts.
Savings Breakdown: Over £500 Per Year
Here is a realistic estimate of annual savings from using student discounts:
| Discount | Annual Saving |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Student (vs full price) | £61 |
| Spotify Premium student (vs full price) | £72 |
| Microsoft 365 (free via university) | £80 |
| ASOS 10% discount (on £400/year spend) | £40 |
| 16–25 Railcard (on £300/year train spend) | £100 |
| Food discounts (McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut — weekly) | £50 |
| Cinema student pricing (10 visits/year) | £30 |
| Fashion discounts (New Look, boohoo — £300/year) | £45 |
| Total estimated annual savings | £478+ |
This does not include occasional promotions, flash sales, or one-off discounts that push the total well above £500 per year.
Tips to Maximise Student Savings
Always Ask
Many retailers do not advertise student discounts. Ask at checkout or check the retailer’s website before paying. You might be surprised how many places offer unadvertised discounts.
Show Your Card at Checkout
Carry your TOTUM card, student ID, or have the UNiDAYS app ready whenever you shop. Missing a 10% discount because you left your card at home is easy money lost.
Use Your Student Email for Online Shopping
Many retailers verify student status through your university email address. Keep your student email active and check it regularly — it is your key to hundreds of online discounts.
Stack Discounts
Combine student discounts with other savings:
- Use a student discount plus a cashback website (e.g., TopCashback or Quidco) for double savings
- Time purchases with seasonal sales (Black Friday, Boxing Day) and add your student discount on top
- Use a student discount code from UNiDAYS plus a promo code from a voucher website
Check Expiry Dates
Student discount offers change frequently. Some are time-limited promotions while others are ongoing. Set reminders to check for new offers at the start of each term.
Share With Flatmates
Some discounts work better in groups. Split a Domino’s order with your flatmates and apply the student discount to the full order. Everyone benefits.
Use University Resources
Beyond retail discounts, your university offers free resources that save real money:
- Free Microsoft Office 365 — save £80+ per year
- Free software — Adobe Creative Cloud, MATLAB, SPSS, and more through university licences
- Free printing — most universities include a printing quota
- Free library — borrow books instead of buying them
- Free career support — CV reviews, interview practice, job fairs
- Free counselling — mental health support at no cost
Student Discount Calendar
Some of the best student discounts appear at specific times of year:
| Period | Best Discounts |
|---|---|
| September (Freshers’ Week) | TOTUM sign-up bonuses, Amazon Prime Student, Spotify, ASOS |
| January (Sales) | ASOS, boohoo, New Look — student discounts stack with sale prices |
| March–April (Spring promotions) | Fashion and tech discounts |
| June (Exam season) | Revision software, Amazon Prime, streaming services |
| August (Results Day) | Back-to-university tech, fashion, student bank accounts |
Summary
Student discounts are one of the easiest ways to save money while at university. Get a TOTUM card for £12 per year, sign up for UNiDAYS and Student Beans for free, and always carry your student ID. Use your student email for online shopping, ask at checkout even when discounts are not advertised, and stack student discounts with cashback and seasonal sales. Combined, these strategies can save you over £500 per year — money that stays in your pocket instead of going to retailers.