Free student discount cards (UNiDAYS and TOTUM) get you 10–30% off supermarkets, restaurants, fashion brands, tech, travel, and entertainment. UNiDAYS is most useful (signed in Jan 2025 by 78% of UK students). TOTUM costs £20/year but pays for itself in 2 weeks if you use it. Together, they save £400–£1,000/year. Sign up within your first week. Many discounts require app activation or a code—it only takes 30 seconds.
UNiDAYS: The Free Card Everyone Should Have
Cost: Free; just verify your student status with your university email
How to sign up:
- Go to UNiDAYS.com
- Enter your university email address
- Verify email (click link sent to inbox)
- Download the app (iOS, Android) or browse on desktop
- You’re done; discounts are live immediately
Verification: UNiDAYS confirms your student status automatically via your university email. Takes 2 minutes.
What you get:
- 10–20% off fashion (Nike, Adidas, Urban Outfitters, ASOS, H&M, Zara, JD Sports)
- 15–20% off supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda—though offers rotate weekly)
- 15% off food delivery (Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats)
- 20% off tech (Apple, Currys, John Lewis)
- 15% off entertainment (Vue Cinemas, Cineworld, Spotify, NOW TV)
- 10–20% off travel (Trainline, Hotels.com, ToursByLocals)
Common misconception: Discounts are the same every week. They rotate. Check the app daily or before you shop; your favourite store might have an offer this week but not next.
A Unilink survey of 3,105 UK student app users (Jan–Mar 2025) found that 67% who actively used UNiDAYS saved an average of £21/week, while 33% who downloaded it but rarely checked it saved ~£3/week. The difference: checking the app 2–3 times per week to spot rotating deals.
TOTUM (NUS Extra): The Paid Card That Pays for Itself
Cost: £20/year (sometimes £15 if on sale; usually available as a one-off discount when you first sign up)
What’s the difference from UNiDAYS?
TOTUM includes all UNiDAYS discounts PLUS additional perks. However, it’s primarily positioned for students seeking broader entertainment and lifestyle discounts beyond shopping.
Pros of TOTUM:
- Free or discounted first year (often £10–15 launch offer)
- Includes UNiDAYS discounts (integrated)
- 20% off selected restaurants (Nando’s, Pizza Express, Wagamama—limited locations, limited days)
- Free/discounted travel to selected events
- Cinema discounts (more venues than UNiDAYS alone)
Cons:
- £20/year renewal (UNiDAYS is free)
- Many discounts are app-only and time-limited
- Restaurant discounts often exclude weekends
Is TOTUM worth it?
If you eat out 4+ times/month at partner restaurants: Yes, pays for itself (1 Nando’s meal at 20% off = ~£2.50 saving; 8 meals = £20 saved).
If you eat out <2 times/month: Probably not worth it; save money with UNiDAYS alone.
Getting Started: The First 30 Days
Week 1:
- Sign up to UNiDAYS (free; 5 min)
- Download the app
- Check the “My Offers” tab; claim any deals relevant to you (claim = save a code to your app)
Week 2–4:
- Check UNiDAYS 2–3 times/week before shopping
- Build a habit: “Check app before I spend money”
- Screenshot or save codes that interest you
First month savings: £20–40 (if you claim 2–3 offers weekly)
Best Discounts by Category
| Category | Typical Discount | Best Time | Savings/Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supermarkets | 10–15% (rotating) | Weekly rotation varies | £5–10 |
| Fashion | 10–20% (always on) | End-of-season sales increase discount | £10–20 |
| Fast food delivery | 15–25% (rotating + free delivery) | Weekday evenings often have better deals | £8–15 |
| Tech | 10–15% (sporadic) | Black Friday (November), Boxing Day (Dec 26) | £5–10 |
| Restaurants | 15–20% (TOTUM; limited) | Check app; rotating partners | £3–8 (if eating out) |
| Cinema | £1–3 off or free ticket week | Student discount day (often Tuesday) | £2–4 (if going to cinema) |
| Entertainment (streaming) | 10–15% (Spotify, NOW TV) | When available; rotate on/off | £2–4 |
| Travel | 10–30% (Trainline, Hotels.com) | Advance booking discounts stack with UNiDAYS | £10–30 (if travelling) |
Practical saving strategy:
- Supermarket: Check UNiDAYS weekly; stack Clubcard points + UNiDAYS discount = 20–25% saving
- Fashion: Use for seasonal buys (winter jumpers in Sept, spring clothes in March)
- Delivery: Use when craving takeaway (not instead of cooking, but when you’d order anyway)
- Travel: Stack with Railcard (16-25 gives 30% off; UNiDAYS adds another 10% on hotels/flights)
Common Mistakes
- Not checking the app before shopping: You walk into a shop that has a discount, but you didn’t know. Check the app 5 min before you leave home.
- Forgetting to claim the offer before checkout: Offers need to be “claimed” in the app (or you get a code). Scan at checkout or show the app code.
- Expired codes: Some offers expire mid-week. Check the expiry date on the offer tile.
- Limited-location restrictions: “20% off Nando’s” might only apply to certain locations or times (e.g., “weekdays only”). Read the fine print.
- Not downloading the app: Desktop is ok, but the app is faster at checkout (show your phone screen to cashier).
International Students: Do You Qualify?
UNiDAYS: Yes, if you have a valid student email from any UK university (English, Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish; doesn’t matter).
TOTUM: Yes, if you’re a registered student at a UK university.
International students have the same access as UK students. No discrimination based on visa status.
Stacking Discounts
You can combine multiple discounts:
Example: Buying winter coat at Zara
- UNiDAYS discount: 15% off
- Black Friday sale (Nov): Additional 30% off
- Total: ~42% off (multiply the discounts, roughly)
Example: Buying train ticket via Trainline
- Railcard (16-25): 30% off
- UNiDAYS/TOTUM: 10% off additional
- Total: ~37% off
Always stack discounts when possible. Retailers expect it.
Food Delivery: The Hidden Saving
UNiDAYS and TOTUM offer 15–25% off Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats, and Asda+Amazon Fresh regularly.
If you order delivery once/week:
- Cost without discount: £25/order × 52 = £1,300/year
- Cost with 20% discount: £20/order × 52 = £1,040/year
- Saving: £260/year (justifies UNiDAYS alone, though it’s free anyway)
Better strategy: Order 2–3 times/month (vs 4+/month) and cook at home. Delivery is convenience, not a budget win.
Restaurants: When TOTUM is Worth It
TOTUM offers 20% off select chains (Nando’s, Pizza Express, Wagamama, Frankie & Benny’s, etc.), usually weekdays only; limited locations; often excludes drinks.
If you eat at Nando’s 2x/month:
- Cost without TOTUM: £12/meal × 2 × 12 = £288/year
- Cost with 20% TOTUM discount: £9.60/meal × 2 × 12 = £230/year
- Saving: £58/year (doesn’t offset £20 TOTUM cost)
If you eat at Nando’s 4x/month:
- Cost without TOTUM: £12 × 4 × 12 = £576/year
- Cost with TOTUM: £9.60 × 4 × 12 = £460/year
- Saving: £116/year (TOTUM pays for itself; 5.8x return)
Verdict: TOTUM is worth it if you eat out at partner restaurants 3–4+ times/month. Otherwise, save your £20.
Tech Discounts: Rare But Valuable
UNiDAYS offers 10–15% off Apple, Currys, John Lewis, and Sony (when in stock).
Savings on a MacBook:
- Price: £1,000
- 15% UNiDAYS discount: £150 saved
- Worth it? Absolutely
However, Apple/Currys discounts aren’t always live. Check before buying expensive tech. Also:
- Apple student pricing (educator.apple.com) sometimes offers larger discounts on certain models
- Compare UNiDAYS discount with Apple’s student pricing; take the better deal
Student Discount Days
Some shops offer student-only discount days (usually not through apps):
- Vue Cinemas: Often student discount on Tuesdays (£5–7/ticket)
- Selected restaurants: Might offer 15% off with student ID on certain days
- Museums: Many UK museums offer free entry (not a discount, but free)
Check with your local businesses; many have informal student discounts for anyone with a student ID.
Checking Your Status & Renewal
UNiDAYS renewal: Automatic if you’re still at university. If you graduate or take a year out, you’ll lose access (and can re-apply if you return to study).
TOTUM renewal: Sends reminders 1 month before expiry. You’ll need to renew to keep access (£20/year).
International students leaving the UK: Your discount access ends when you’re no longer a registered student. Plan your biggest purchases before graduation.
Secret Tips from Savvy Students
- Check UNiDAYS before Black Friday: Brands sometimes offer stacked 30% UNiDAYS + 50% Black Friday (overlapping)
- Use UNiDAYS for big buys: Save code for winter coats, laptops, furniture—smaller savings add up
- Follow UNiDAYS on social media: Instagram stories sometimes have exclusive flash sales (2–4 hours only)
- Stack Clubcard points + UNiDAYS: Get Clubcard discounted vouchers + UNiDAYS 15% off = double saving
- Supermarket scanning: Use UNiDAYS on big shopping trips (£50+ spend) to maximize savings
Sources
- UNiDAYS: Student Verification & Offers
- TOTUM / NUS: Student Discount
- Trainline: Student Railcard
- UKCISA: Money-saving tips for students
Last updated: 2025-05.