Student Discounts in the UK for International Students
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Part of the Loomz International Student Guide
This article is part of our practical guide to studying and living in the UK for international students.
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Student Discounts in the UK for International Students
One of the better surprises about studying in the UK?
Being a student can make a lot of things cheaper.
- Food.
- Clothes.
- Technology.
- Train travel.
- Days out.
- Cinema tickets.
- Subscriptions.
- Restaurants.
And occasionally things you didn't even realise had a student discount.
If you're arriving from overseas, though, the system can be slightly confusing.
Do international students qualify?
Do you need a UK student card?
What's the difference between UNiDAYS, Student Beans and TOTUM?
What's an ESNcard?
And should you really pay for something just because somebody has put 20% STUDENT DISCOUNT next to it?
Here's how student discounts work in the UK, and how to make the most of them.
Can International Students Get Student Discounts in the UK?
In most cases, yes.
Student discounts are generally based on your student status, rather than your nationality.
Once you're enrolled at an eligible UK university, you'll normally have the same opportunities to access student offers as other eligible students.
Exactly what you qualify for depends on the individual scheme.
Some discounts require:
- A university email address
- A university student ID
- Online verification of your student status
- Membership of a particular student discount scheme
or simply:
- Proof that you're currently studying
So one of the first things to do after university enrolment is get your student account and university email working.
That little .ac.uk email address can become surprisingly useful.
Start With Your University Student ID
Your university will normally issue you with some form of student identification once you've enrolled.
Keep it with you.
Many independent businesses, particularly around university towns and cities, offer discounts simply for showing valid student ID.
That could include:
- Cafés.
- Restaurants.
- Hairdressers.
- Gyms.
- Bars.
- Entertainment venues.
- Museums and attractions.
- Local shops.
These discounts aren't always heavily advertised.
So get used to asking:
"Do you offer student discount?"
The worst possible outcome is somebody says no.
UNiDAYS
UNiDAYS is one of the best-known student discount platforms in the UK.
You create an account, verify that you're an eligible student and can then access participating offers and discount codes.
You'll commonly find discounts covering areas such as:
- Fashion.
- Technology.
- Beauty.
- Food.
- Fitness.
- Subscriptions.
- Travel.
- Lifestyle products.
Offers change regularly, so don't assume a discount you saw last month is still available, or that today's discount will still exist next month.
The useful part is having the account ready.
Then when you're about to buy something, you can check whether there's an offer before paying full price.
Student Beans
Student Beans works in a similar way.
It's free to use and provides verified students with discount offers from thousands of brands. Student Beans says eligible users over 16 in full-time education can join, and student status can be verified through methods including a university portal, university email or supporting documents.
Again, the important thing isn't memorising every discount.
It's getting verified so you can check Student Beans whenever you're about to make a significant purchase.
Should You Have Both UNiDAYS and Student Beans?
Yes.
There's little reason to choose only one.
A retailer might:
- Offer a discount through both.
- Appear on one but not the other.
- Offer different promotions at different times.
- Or temporarily increase its student discount.
Before making a reasonably expensive purchase, check both.
Thirty seconds of searching can sometimes save considerably more than thirty seconds of work normally earns.
TOTUM
TOTUM is another major UK student discount platform.
Unlike Student Beans, TOTUM currently has both a free digital membership and a paid TOTUM+ option with additional benefits. Eligibility extends to students aged 16+ at eligible further- and higher-education institutions, subject to its study requirements.
Verification can include your university email address or other evidence of study.
TOTUM+ also includes additional benefits such as a physical card, in-store offers and international discount features.
Don't automatically assume you need the paid version.
Look at the discounts you would realistically use and decide whether the membership cost makes sense for you.
ESNcard
This one is particularly relevant to international students.
The ESNcard is the membership card of the Erasmus Student Network and provides access to benefits and discounts offered through the ESN network.
And importantly:
You don't necessarily have to be an Erasmus exchange student to qualify.
ESN's current eligibility includes Erasmus+ participants and other mobility students, but also international undergraduate and postgraduate full-degree students studying in a country other than the one where they completed their secondary education. Local or national rules can affect availability and distribution.
So if you're coming to the UK to complete an entire degree, rather than just spending a semester here, it's still worth checking whether you're eligible.
Which Student Discount Scheme Is Best?
You don't really need to choose.
Think of them as different keys.
Your university student ID might unlock one discount.
UNiDAYS another.
Student Beans another.
TOTUM another.
ESNcard another.
You can potentially use several schemes during your time in the UK.
The important thing is to check the terms of an individual offer before buying.
Student Discounts on Train Travel
If you're planning to explore the UK, this can be one of the most valuable discounts to investigate.
The 16–25 Railcard currently gives eligible holders 1/3 off many rail fares across Great Britain. Despite its name, eligible mature students aged 26+ studying full-time can also apply, subject to additional student-status requirements.
International students aren't excluded simply because they're international; the Railcard's guidance says full-time international students can usually apply if they meet the relevant requirements.
If you're aged 26–30, there's also a separate 26–30 Railcard, while other Railcards may suit different circumstances.
A Railcard is especially worth investigating if you're planning to use trains for:
- Weekend trips.
- Visiting friends at other universities.
- Airport journeys.
- Exploring different UK cities.
- Or simply escaping campus occasionally.
Studying in London? Check the 18+ Student Oyster Photocard
London has an additional student transport scheme.
Eligible students aged 18+ who live in a London borough during term time and attend a participating institution can apply for an 18+ Student Oyster photocard.
It currently provides 30% off adult-rate Travelcards and Bus & Tram Pass season tickets. Eligibility rules apply, and you can only apply once you're enrolled.
There's another useful trick.
Eligible Railcard holders can have their Railcard discount added to an Oyster photocard to receive 1/3 off certain off-peak pay-as-you-go fares and daily caps.
If you're going to university in London, investigate this fairly early after enrolling.
18+ Student Oyster photocard information
Don't Confuse a Discount With a Saving
This is probably the most important rule in this entire article.
Imagine a jacket costs:
£100
You weren't going to buy it.
Then you discover there's a:
20% student discount.
You buy it for £80.
You haven't saved £20.
You've spent £80.
Student discounts are brilliant when they're applied to something you already intended to buy.
They're considerably less brilliant when they persuade you to buy something you didn't need.
Technology Discounts Can Be Particularly Valuable
Students often need expensive technology.
- Laptop.
- Tablet.
- Monitor.
- Software.
- Headphones.
- Phone.
Before buying technology, check whether the manufacturer or retailer operates:
- A student store.
- An education price.
- A student verification programme.
- A university purchasing scheme.
- UNiDAYS or Student Beans offers.
Technology discounts can sometimes be worth considerably more in pounds than a discount on a smaller everyday purchase.
If you're planning to buy a laptop after arriving in the UK, don't walk into the first shop and pay the displayed price without checking.
Check Software Before Paying for It
This is another area where students can waste money unnecessarily.
Your university may already provide access to software you need for your course.
That might include:
- Office software.
- Cloud storage.
- Specialist academic programs.
- Research tools.
- Video conferencing.
- Design software.
- Security software.
- Library databases.
Before paying for a subscription, search your university's IT pages or ask your department.
The cheapest student software is the software your university has already paid for.
Food and Restaurant Discounts
Student discounts aren't limited to clothes and technology.
Restaurants, cafés and takeaway businesses frequently run student promotions.
Some are permanent.
Others appear during:
- Freshers' Week.
- Term time.
- Specific weekdays.
- Quieter periods.
You may need to:
- Show student ID.
- Generate a code.
- Verify through an app.
- Or order through a particular channel.
Always check the terms.
A 20% discount that's only available Monday–Thursday isn't particularly helpful when you're standing outside the restaurant on Saturday night.
Supermarket Savings Work Differently
Don't expect every UK supermarket to offer a straightforward permanent student percentage discount.
Food savings may instead come through:
- Loyalty schemes.
- App-only prices.
- Cashback.
- Temporary student promotions.
- Discount platforms.
- Reduced-price sections.
- Meal deals.
Your biggest supermarket saving may simply come from choosing where you shop and using the supermarket's loyalty scheme.
If you're going to use the same supermarket regularly, download its app and investigate the loyalty programme.
Fashion Discounts
Fashion is one of the biggest student-discount categories.
Many retailers participate in student platforms or run their own verified offers.
Before buying clothes online:
- Check UNiDAYS.
- Check Student Beans.
- Check TOTUM if you're a member.
- Check the retailer's own website.
Then compare.
Don't assume the first student code you find is automatically the best promotion available.
Sometimes a normal sale code is better.
Gyms and Fitness
Universities often have their own sports centres and gyms.
These may offer student pricing.
Commercial gyms may also offer:
- Student memberships.
- Reduced joining fees.
- Flexible contracts.
- University-specific offers.
Before signing a long contract, check:
- How long you're committed for.
- Whether you can cancel during holidays.
- Whether you're likely to move accommodation.
- Whether your university already includes access to facilities you need.
A cheap gym you don't use is still expensive.
Cinema, Theatre, Museums and Attractions
Student status can also make exploring the UK cheaper.
Look for student pricing when booking:
- Cinema.
- Theatre.
- Museums.
- Galleries.
- Historic attractions.
- Tours.
- Events.
Some UK museums and galleries are free to enter anyway, so check before paying for a third-party ticket or tour.
And always carry your student ID.
Your University May Have Its Own Discounts
Don't overlook your university itself.
Check:
- Your Students' Union.
- University app.
- Student portal.
- Welcome emails.
- International student office.
- Accommodation portal.
- Freshers' Week information.
You may find local discounts that don't appear on the national student platforms.
Universities and Students' Unions can have partnerships with businesses near campus.
Those can be particularly useful because they're designed around places students actually use.
Freshers' Week Is Discount Season
The first few weeks of university are full of companies trying to attract students.
You'll encounter:
- Free trials.
- Discount codes.
- Vouchers.
- Free food.
- Introductory memberships.
- Society promotions.
- Banking offers.
- Gym deals.
Some are genuinely useful.
Others are designed to get you into a recurring subscription.
Before signing up, check:
- When does the free period end?
- Will I automatically be charged afterwards?
- How do I cancel?
- Is there a minimum contract?
Free today doesn't necessarily mean free next month.
Postgraduate Students: Don't Assume You're Excluded
If you're doing a Master's, PhD or another postgraduate qualification, don't assume "student discount" means undergraduate.
Many schemes are based on verified student status rather than degree level.
For example, ESNcard explicitly includes eligible international undergraduate and postgraduate full-degree students.
The mature-student route for the 16–25 Railcard can also cover eligible full-time postgraduate students.
Check each scheme rather than assuming you're too old or on the wrong type of degree.
Do You Need a UK University Email Address?
Often it's the easiest verification method.
But not always the only one.
Student Beans, for example, can verify students through a recognised university email domain and also provides other verification routes.
TOTUM similarly supports different verification methods depending on the institution.
So if you've only just arrived and your university email isn't fully working yet, don't automatically assume you can't register.
Check the provider's verification options.
What About an ISIC Card?
You may already be familiar with the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) before arriving in the UK.
It's another international student identification and discount programme.
Interestingly, eligible university students taking TOTUM+ currently receive a digital ISIC membership as part of the package, subject to the relevant criteria.
Whether a separate ISIC card makes sense for you depends on where you travel and which benefits you'll actually use.
As always:
Check the current offers before paying for membership.
Explore International Student Identity Card (ISIC)
Council Tax Isn't a "Student Discount" — But It's Important
This is slightly different from getting 10% off a pair of trainers.
If you live in private accommodation, you may hear people talking about Council Tax.
In England, Scotland and Wales, qualifying full-time students are generally disregarded for Council Tax purposes, and a household occupied entirely by qualifying full-time students can normally be exempt.
The exact position depends on your circumstances and where in the UK you live.
Northern Ireland has a different domestic-rates system rather than Council Tax.
If you're renting privately, check the rules rather than simply assuming the bill does or doesn't apply to you.
Check the UK Government's Council Tax information for students
Ask Before You Pay
This is a habit worth developing.
You're about to buy something.
Ask yourself:
Is there a student discount?
Then check.
- Student Beans.
- UNiDAYS.
- TOTUM.
- ESNcard.
- Your university.
- The retailer's own website.
Or simply ask the person serving you.
You won't find a discount every time.
You don't need to.
Saving £5 here, £10 there and £30 somewhere else adds up across an academic year.
Don't Let Discounts Encourage Overspending
Discount platforms are marketing platforms too.
They're very good at showing you things you might want.
So create one rule:
Search for a discount after deciding to buy, not for something to buy because you've found a discount.
That's the difference between using student discounts to help your budget and allowing student discounts to wreck it.
Your UK Student Discount Checklist
Once you've enrolled:
☐ Get your university student ID
☐ Activate your university email account
☐ Register for UNiDAYS
☐ Register for Student Beans
☐ Check whether TOTUM makes sense for you
☐ Check your ESNcard eligibility
☐ Investigate the appropriate Railcard
☐ If studying in London, check Student Oyster eligibility
☐ Check your university and Students' Union offers
☐ Look for technology and software education pricing
☐ Join useful supermarket loyalty schemes
☐ Keep student ID with you
☐ Ask about student discount before paying
☐ Check whether a normal sale or promotion is actually cheaper
The Simple Rule
Being an international student doesn't mean missing out on UK student discounts.
Once you're enrolled, start getting your student status verified across the schemes you're eligible for.
Then don't obsess over discounts.
Just build one small habit:
Before buying something you already need, check whether you can pay less for it.
Over three or four years at university, that habit can be worth a lot more than one impressive-looking discount code.
More Help for International Students
This article is part of the Loomz International Student Guide to Studying in the UK.
Head back to the main guide for practical information covering money, accommodation, preparing to travel, healthcare, working and everyday university life in the UK.
Explore the International Student Guide →
Setting Up Your UK Student Room?
Student discount or not, there's no point paying for things your accommodation already provides.
Check what's included first, then Loomz can help with the things you're missing, from UK-size bedding and kitchen essentials to bathroom, laundry, storage, lighting and useful student tech.
Buy individual items.
Choose a bundle.
Or mix the two.
Your uni. Your kit. Your choice.
Free UK delivery.
Important: This guide provides general information for international students and isn't financial, legal or immigration advice. Student discount offers, prices, eligibility criteria and membership benefits can change, and individual retailers may have their own terms. Always check the current eligibility requirements and offer terms with the relevant provider before purchasing or signing up.
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