Student Discounts 2024 : How to Maximise Savings This Academic Year

The new academic year is fast approaching and for new and old students alike, looking for the best student discount of 2024 is one of the most exciting parts of heading back to your student town for the year. It can be challenging to learn how to live on a student budget for the first time, and that is why we always want to help you out with a few pointers on where you can save some cash and where you can get a discount just for being a student!

From Amazon to Apple, Boots to Greggs, you’d be surprised at how many places and how many different items and services that you can make use of being a student and gain a discount. It certainly helps you to enjoy your life a bit more comfortably when living away from home in student accommodation.

What is a student discount?

In simple terms, a student discount is a promotional offer to students where they can gain exclusive access to discounts from certain products and services by showing a valid student ID.

For students studying at school, college, or university in the UK, this opens up a whole wide world of potential discounts on a whole host of different items and services. In most cases, student discounts will be a percentage taken off the total price, but sometimes it will be in the form of a free trial or a buy-one-get-one-free product.

Companies are willing to offer student discounts as it is a great way to build trust between a consumer and a brand. There is a recognition that the large student population in the UK does not have much disposable income in general, as it is the start of adult life for the vast majority of them.

Student discounts provide a chance to try out new products and services but be aware that they are not always recognisable and overtly available, so it is always best to just be brave and ask for a student discount in certain stores, restaurants, and with other companies. The worst that will happen is that they say no to you, which is no harm at all.

How to use a student discount?

To make use of a student discount always:

• Remember to ask the store if they have a student discount available
• Always have a valid student ID with you when shopping
• Try to stack your student discount with other offers for greater cost savings
• Don’t forget to apply your student discount when shopping online

Where can I get a student discount in 2024 in the UK?

There are hundreds of retailers and big brands in the UK that offer student discounts in 2024, it’s just a matter of keeping on top of where they are and asking around to see if you can get discounted items and services that you personally like. We’ve put together some of the popular student discounts below:

Amazon

Amazon offer a 6-month free trial for students, and even after this period is over, you are entitled to 50% off Prime subscription fees, so you’ll only be paying £4.49 per month. The trial includes free next-day delivery and access to Prime Video. Amazon also offers a wide range of other student discounts that you can find on the site.

Apple

This is a big one for students who use Apple products or those who want to work with a MacBook for their university studies. There are a few different offers on the table through Apple, so it’s worth taking a look at the Apple student discount page, but some of the offers include 20% off Apple Care + to help maintain and repair any Apple products you already have, and a really helpful 10% student discount off products.

Spotify

Spotify Premium is available for students at a whopping 45% discount! This means that you only pay £5.99 per month for the ad-free service, after a one month trial for free. All you need to do is sign in through your university portal or upload proof of your student status to gain access.

Boots

For all your toiletry and self-care needs, the boots student discount gives you 10% off all products when showing a valid student ID, and you can link this to your Boots Advantage Card, to add up more points and future savings. You can use the student discount both online and in-store.

Student Railcard

With rail fares increasing every year, the cost of travelling by train has become too expensive for many, without having some sort of discount to help reduce the costs. As a student, travelling by train is one of the best ways to see the country, to get around to other places for short breaks, day trips, or for longer breaks. A student railcard (that you can purchase for £30), for those aged between 16 and 25 (plus mature students with a valid student ID) provides a great discount for rail fares, 1/3 off the total price. This leads to an average of around £189 in savings each year, and you’ll find that it pays for itself within just three or four journeys.

Greggs

Who doesn’t love a sausage roll? Especially now that Greggs serves vegan sausage rolls that (whisper it) are probably even better than the meat version. There remains a great student discount in 2024 for the popular bakery. Whenever you buy a sandwich lunch deal at Greggs, you can get one item for free, just by showing a valid student card. This free item could be anything from a free sausage roll or vegan sausage roll, to a cheese and onion bake or one of the sweet treats on offer (we love the donuts at Greggs!).

Making the most of student life

Student life is a balancing act of academic studies, budgeting for your food shop and staple items, making friends having a social life, and exploring your new local surroundings. Making the most of your student life helps to keep a good work-life balance and in a time where we are more aware of the importance of mental health than ever before, learning how to budget, keeping on top of the student cost of living and making the most of the best student discounts around, can help you maintain positive mental health.

What are your favourite student discounts that you’ve had in the past? Is there any type of student discount in 2024 that you are particularly looking forward to? Whether you are a fresher heading away from home for the first time or a returning student going into your final year or heading into post-graduate course, making the most of student discounts on offer can make a big difference to certain parts of your life. We hope we can help you find the best deals and discounts to match your needs.