How UK Students Can Stretch Their Budgets with Discount Platforms

The services UNiDAYS, Student Beans and TOTUM aggregate retailer offers that are available only to verified students. By registering with a university email address—or, where email verification is not possible, by uploading an acceptance letter—students gain access to a roster of discounts that differ between the three sites. Each platform lists the participating retailers and the terms of the offer, encouraging users to sign up for all three to maximise coverage.

The Guardian

• Food and Drink – UNiDAYS provides a 25 % discount on Marks & Spencer’s “food on the move” range, while Greene King, Pizza Express and Zizzi each issue 20 % off student cards for in-venue purchases. The Co-op offers a 10 % reduction for Student Beans members at participating stores.

The Guardian

• Technology and Software – Universities often supply free Microsoft 365 licences; UNiDAYS and Student Beans list up to 15 % off Microsoft hardware and a 75 % reduction on Adobe Creative Cloud Pro for students, lowering the monthly fee from £66.49 to £16.24. Apple’s education pricing is also linked through UNiDAYS.

The Guardian

• Travel – UNiDAYS and Student Beans grant 20 % off FlixBus and National Express coach tickets, while a 16-25 Railcard can be obtained for free through a Santander Edge student account or at a 15 % discount via the discount sites.

The Guardian

• Fitness and Leisure – The Gym Group and Fitness First each offer up to 25 % off memberships, and British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS)’s UNIversal Gym scheme lets students use any participating university gym at no extra cost. Strava provides a free 30-day premium trial followed by a 50 % discount.

The Guardian

• Entertainment and Subscriptions – Amazon Prime for Students delivers six months free, then £4.49 / month; Spotify Premium starts with a free month and continues at £5.99 / month, roughly half the standard price.

The Guardian

Students must present a valid university ID or a digital card from UNiDAYS, Student Beans or TOTUM when claiming offers. Some retailers, such as Boots, require activation of a physical Advantage Card in-store after applying online. Where email verification fails, uploading an acceptance letter is accepted by the platforms.

The Guardian

With rising rents and food prices, these aggregated discounts help stretch maintenance loans and part-time earnings. By combining multiple platforms, students can secure simultaneous savings across essential categories—food, technology, travel and fitness—reducing out-of-pocket costs that would otherwise strain limited budgets.

The Guardian