The best student discounts, deals and shopping hacks for 2024

Heading to uni? Get organised with all the best student discounts and deals and life hacks you need to know at Drake Circus and The Barcode.

Whether it’s the best places for two-for-one cocktails, burgers and pizza; deals for students on tech, nights out, travel, fashion, beauty and the essential loyalty cards and student discount schemes (recycle old shoes or trainers at schuh and get £5 a new pair), we’ve got everything you need to know for the new term.

The student essentials

First thing’s first – sign up for the TOTUM card and app from the NUS which will give you discounts at brands including Marks & Spencer, Oliver Bonas, Primark, New Look and more…

Once you have that – make sure you keep checking our student offers page for the latest deals, menus and discounts.

Download the UNiDAYS and Student Beans apps to get even more brilliant discounts (including the £9.95 pizza and drink bundle at Franco Manca and 30% off at Zizzi).

There are lots of offers to be had when setting up bank accounts and phones too – Monzo do amazing cashback offers at brands including Krispy Kreme and Yo! Sushi; Natwest offers a four-year Tastecard which gives 25% off at Burger King while Santander covers your railcard.

But, be mindful of hidden fees and overdraft interest… Money Saving Expert has a great guide here.

Food and drink student discounts galore

Flex your student discounts at Brewdog (25% off), Hotel Chocolat (10% off), Las Iguanas (25% off), Nando’s (25% off) and Yo! (£3.25 katsu curry with UNiDAYS).

Check the websites for the latest details and details that apply – deals change all the time with special offers for students popping up all year round. It’s also worth knowing about Cosy Club’s loyalty card and bottomless brunch, Kaspa’s 10% student discount and Zizzi’s 20% off for students Sunday to Thursday, so keep checking our offers page.

Fashion discounts

If you’re away for the first time, think comfort. A stylish-and-very-practical winter coat, waterproof trainers or boots, a comfy onesie you can climb into after a long day and a cosy beanie will get you through the first term without a case of freshers’ flu (hopefully).

With UNiDAYS and Student Beans, you can get discounts at Drake Circus stores including Boux Avenue, Fat Face, schuh, Oliver Bonas, Foot Locker, Footasylum, H&M, JD Sports, Mountain Warehouse, Levi’s, Lovisa, Mango, New Look, Pandora, Quiz, River Island and more.

Student beauty offers to know

You know your self-care routine so let’s get to the important bit: your student beauty discounts.

Sign up for Superdrug, Holland & Barrett and Boots loyalty cards for discounted prices and vouchers and get student discounts at Lush, Rituals and The Perfume Shop.

Image provided by Lush

Essential tech for students

Tech wise you really need the following: a laptop, phone, chargers, an extension cable, headphones for noisy libraries, a portable hard drive and, possibly, an ethernet cable so you can connect directly to the router. A lamp and Bluetooth speaker can be handy too.

Apple offers special prices for students while Three and O2 offer deals throughout the year.

Going out at The Barcode

Sunday through to Thursday are the ideal nights to go out for incredible student offers at The Barcode.

• If you’ve bought anything with Compare the Market, you can enjoy Meerkat Movies at Cineworld with two-for-one tickets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
• Paradise Island Adventure Golf has student Wednesdays with two courses for just £9.
• For a night out of karaoke, axe throwing, beer pong and more, Boom Battle Bar is the place to be – with 15% off for students Monday to Thursday.
• Enjoy cocktails, pizza, duckpin bowling, clayshot and electric darts at Spinners with bottomless brunches on their terrace.

Stationery and books student discounts

If you’re away for the first time, you’ll need a host of documents (offer letter, accommodation details, valid ID etc) so keep them safe and locked up in a handy folder that has everything you need when you need it.

Useful tip: make a list of useful phone numbers/bank account details/emergency contacts in a small notebook in case you lose your phone.

Invest in pens, notebook, academic diary, highlighters, Post-its and a noticeboard so you can meet deadlines and make notes without any stress.

You can get student discounts at Waterstones and amazing bits at Mooch and Flying Tiger Copenhagen.

Interiors hacks for your room

The most useful things you can take to uni (outside of plates, glasses, bowls, cutlery, pan and a baking tray) are:

• A laundry bin (great for storage and moving around)
• An over-the-door coat hook (you can never have too many hooks)
• Collapsible storage for under the bed and on shelves
• A kettle so you can make tea and coffee in your room
• A bathroom caddy to keep all your stuff in
• A cheering rug and duvet set can make all the difference
• A decent mirror

Head to Flying Tiger Copenhagen, Next, Oliver Bonas and Primark.

Other bits and pieces

Plasters, scissors, tweezers, daily Vitamin C, bin bags, bottle and tin openers, kitchen roll and coat hangers. These are the everyday things you’ll be so grateful you remembered. Pick up everything you need at Primark and Flying Tiger Copenhagen.

Travel

Always check for student discounts on buses and trains (it’s definitely worth getting the 16-25 railcard) and split any taxi rides via an app.

*All details correct as of July 2024