How To Make The Most Of Student ID Benefits

Student life can be an enlightening experience that brings you new sights, people, and perspectives, especially if you travel overseas for your education. However, it can get expensive depending on the time of year, location, and economic climate. This doesn’t mean it is impossible to do so! There are a few tips and tricks to make travelling and studying overseas a privilege that any student can enjoy. 

Flights, hotels, visas, transportation, food, communication – with the right amount of planning, you can reduce the cost on all of these points, especially if you have a student ID card.

Student ID benefits

Young and excitable students may not realise that they have a massive opportunity in their hands in the form of their student ID card. This often-overlooked piece of plastic is a gateway to many opportunities and benefits beyond campus grounds. These student ID benefits are especially helpful for those who are studying abroad. Here is a quick list of the main student ID benefits that you might be missing out on:

On-campus benefits

Many college and university campuses are open to the public, but there are plenty of unique facilities that are only available to students. A student ID card will often grant you access to places such as libraries, low-sensory study rooms, exclusive computer labs, and student unions. Some universities even offer free parking to students who present their IDs. By making full use of your student ID benefits, you can boost your productivity around campus. 

Universities and campuses are also prime venues for educational workshops and events such as job fairs. One of the best student ID benefits includes discounted or free student access to such events. This is an especially good opportunity to make connections with potential employers, alumni, and industry professionals to kickstart your professional journey.

Loads of student discounts

It goes without saying that students tend to have limited funds, especially those who are studying overseas. Your student ID benefits can help to lighten that financial burden. After all, part of student life is to enjoy as much as you learn!

With that being said, student ID cards open up a whole slew of discounts, especially at online stores. Many online businesses recognise the financial plight of students, which is why you can often find student discounts online. For example, you can nab gym and retail discounts at select stores in the US if you have a US student ID. You can also find region-specific student ID discounts via certain websites. For example, Totum caters to many students within the UK, while the European Youth Card offers fantastic deals for students within the EU.

Student ID benefits can result in discounts at shopping sites such as Amazon, entertainment sites such as Netflix, or even nab you fantastic offers for important learning tools such as Microsoft Office or Adobe. Plus, if you’re into binge-watching on a budget, check out these student discounts on streaming services to save even more while staying entertained.

Telecommunication companies also like to offer students heavily discounted plans. Some even offer brand-new smartphones to students for free, though these tend to come with the caveat of having to stick to their plan for several years.

Local stores near or around a campus that enjoy plenty of foot traffic from students also tend to offer nice discounts for those who present a student card. Be it the local theme park, restaurants, fitness centres, theatres, and more, you will likely be able to present your student ID and save a pretty penny. Take the time to look into neighbouring cafés or bookstores, and you might be surprised by how far your student ID benefits can take you.

Score major travel discounts

One of the indispensable student ID benefits that you can take advantage of is travel benefits. This goes for both commuters and international students. A student ID can often nab you generous discounts on all sorts of public transportation, such as buses, trains, and subways. For example, the Eurail Student Pass offers a youth discount for students under 25 years old. In some places, public transportation can even be free for valid student ID holders, a massive financial boon, to say the least!

If you are planning to travel by air or even return to your home country for semester break, one major student ID benefit includes special student discounts on flights. Low-cost airlines have made air travel quite cheaper by offering fares that are usually much more appealing than regular airlines. A student ID can make these tickets even more budget-friendly.

This benefit also extends to travel accommodations. While you won’t be getting the fanciest rooms around, hotels and even some Airbnbs will gladly offer student discounts for valid student ID holders.

Try applying for an International Student Identity Card

Your student ID card is a powerful tool for any student. However, in some cases, your student ID benefits might only apply locally. That is where an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) comes in handy.

An ISIC serves as internationally recognised proof of student status and offers access to various benefits and discounts globally. If a hotel, store, or website won’t offer student ID benefits for your foreign student ID, you can try presenting them with an ISIC card instead. Thanks to being internationally recognised, ISIC card benefits are more readily given out by businesses to valid ISIC ID holders.

ISIC card benefits

• It is endorsed by UNESCO.
• Access international student discounts for shopping, food, and cultural events.
• Become part of the global community with access to international services and facilities.
• Provide international proof of student status to access travel discounts.
• Enjoy big student discounts available on the ISIC network worldwide.