Discount guide for international students

While choosing to study in Australia will no doubt be an unforgettable experience, it is important to remember that it definitely isn’t the cheapest place for a student to live! It can be difficult to make ends meet when you’re juggling the costs of accommodation, utilities, transport and insurance with going out and actually experiencing all that Australia has to offer. A discount here and there can be paramount in helping you keep your finances in order, saving you money on both the necessities and the occasional treat.

If you’re not already aware of your discount entitlements as a student in Australia, read on to find out our top picks for student concessions during your time Down Under!

UNiDAYS

You can access discounts on a wide range of items, from clothes and beauty products to computers and travel through the UNiDAYS website. World famous companies such as ASOS, Adidas and Sephora offer a minimum 10 per cent discount, while you can also save money on Australian labels. To secure these concessions, simply create an account and verify your student status through your university portal to generate one-time use discount codes.

International Student Identity Card (ISIC)

For $30, you can buy a virtual international student card that grants you access to over 150,000 discounts in 130 countries all over the world. Your ISIC will allow you to save money on pretty much everything – accommodation, travel, activities, dining, retail, gift vouchers, health services, events…you name it! The best thing about the ISIC is that you’re likely to get your card fee back through these discounts, so it could prove to be a worthy money-saver if you use it wisely. You just need to verify your full-time student status to be eligible for an ISIC, and if you’d like to add a plastic card to your account it’ll only cost you an extra $8.50.

Student Flights

If you’re an avid traveller, you will no doubt enjoy the student concessions offered by Student Flights. With deals applying specifically to students and under 30s, you can save big time on flights, tours and accommodation. The famous ‘Black Market’ airfares provide eligible customers with discounted prices on flights with some of the world’s premium airlines, meaning that you can travel to all corners of the globe for a reasonable amount of money. To access these savings, Student Flights requires you to present a valid student or proof of age card which will inform your eligibility for their personal identity card.

Music streaming apps

Music lovers rejoice – popular streaming services such as Spotify and iTunes offer student subscription discounts that can save you up to 50 per cent on the original price. If you’re an eligible student, you can access a premium level subscription on both services for only $5.99 a month. You just need to prove your enrolment at an accredited higher education institution to take advantage of these savings, and keep in mind that your student status could be verified periodically to confirm your eligibility.

Student Edge

Like UNiDAYS, you can secure discounts on a heap of things through the Student Edge website. Save money on food and entertainment, or choose to access discounts on business and finance services instead. You just need to confirm your student status through your university portal to reap the benefits of these awesome deals.

Student VIP

This website is a great place to look if you’re on the hunt for discounted school supplies. You can buy textbooks second hand, or sell your old books to other students if you’d like to make some extra cash. Student VIP also has a marketplace for quality student notes, where you can filter by institution, subject and semester date to ensure you are purchasing and selling helpful documents. You can also pay to access online tutors or download ‘lost on campus’ maps to make your Australian study experience as stress-free as possible.

Transport

Depending on where you’ll be based in Australia, you may be able to access student concessions on public transport. Most states require you to present a valid student card issued by an Australian institution to secure a concession card, which you must keep on you at all times. Those students living in the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland or Western Australia will be eligible for a concession fare on public transport if they’re studying full-time at an accredited institution. Only international exchange and scholarship students are entitled to transport concessions in Sydney – Study Abroad students must travel on an adult Opal card. However, international students with an ISIC or international student identity card can claim discounted fares on regional TrainLink services throughout New South Wales. The concession rules for international students are quite similar in Victoria, as only students on exchange programs or government funded scholarships are able to access discounted public transport. The iUSEpass may be handy for undergraduate international students who frequently use Melbourne’s transport system, as it provides students with an annual myki pass that can save you money in the long run. For more information on your concession entitlements as an international student, have a chat to your institution or consult with the public transport body in your state.

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