Open University Students: Do They Get Discounts?

are open university students entitled to student discount

Open University students are entitled to a wide range of student discounts. While it may be necessary to jump through a few extra hoops to verify student status, discounts are available at retailers, restaurants, cinemas, software companies, and public transport services. Many discounts will come automatically with a student ID card, which can be obtained by logging into an online student portal and uploading a photo.

Characteristics Values
Student discounts 10% off clothing retailers, discounts on tech, cheap or free entry to cultural attractions, discounted cinema tickets, cheaper public transport, discounts on software, discounts at restaurants
Student ID card Required for many discounts, can be obtained by uploading a photo and providing a mailing address
TOTUM card Formerly known as the NUS Extra card, provides access to a broad range of discounts and offers, acts as ID, costs money
UNiDAYS Provides access to discounts at retailers such as Topshop/Topman, River Island, Office, Paperchase, and Las Iguanas
Student Beans Provides access to discounts at retailers such as Dominos Pizza, River Island, and Office

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Student cards and IDs

Student cards are a great way to save money, and most universities provide them to their students. The Open University is no exception—its students are eligible to apply for the TOTUM card, which is the new name for the NUS (National Union of Students) Extra card. This card acts as proof of student status and grants access to a wide range of discounts and offers.

To obtain a student card, online students typically need to log in to their online student portal and upload a photo of themselves, along with providing their mailing address. However, the process may vary, so it's always good to check with your institution.

With a student card, you can enjoy discounts on clothing, technology, cultural attractions, cinema tickets, and public transport. Many retailers, including Topshop/Topman, River Island, Office, and Superdrug, offer year-round discounts upon presentation of a student card. Similarly, technology brands like Apple have an Education Store with reduced prices for students.

When it comes to entertainment, most major cinema chains offer student deals, and cultural attractions like museums and galleries often provide discounted or free entry for students. For those who travel frequently, a student card can bring significant savings on public transport concessions, although an additional concession card from the transport service may be required in some cases.

In addition to physical cards, there are digital options like UNiDAYS and Student Beans, which offer a range of online and in-store discounts. These apps can be used as proof of student status and provide easy access to various deals.

Overall, student cards and IDs are a valuable asset for any student looking to make the most of their money and access the wide range of discounts available.

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Retail discounts

Students at the Open University are entitled to a range of retail discounts. While it may be harder to access these deals without a physical student ID card, there are still many discounts that can be obtained with proof of student status.

One way to prove student status is to use the TOTUM card, previously known as the NUS Extra card. This card is available to all OU students and acts as ID, providing access to a wide range of discounts and offers. TOTUM cardholders can get 25% off at Odeon Cinemas, for example.

Another way to access student discounts is to use the UNiDAYS app. By registering student status on the app, users can unlock discounts at a variety of retailers, including The Fragrance Shop (15% off online purchases), Superdrug (10% off in-store purchases), Supercuts (10% off haircuts and services), Boots Opticians (10% off first pair of glasses, contact lenses, and prescription glasses, plus 50% off every extra pair of glasses or prescription sunglasses), and many clothing retailers.

Student Beans is another app that provides access to student discounts. Through Student Beans, students can get 10% off at Topshop/Topman, River Island, and Office, as well as 35% off online Dominos orders over £25.

Some retailers, like Spotify, require students to contact support and provide proof of student status before unlocking discounts.

In addition to these, OU students may be able to access discounts on software and packages to support their studies.

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Travel discounts

As an Open University student, you are eligible to purchase a TOTUM card, powered by the National Union of Students (NUS). The TOTUM card is the number one student discount card in the UK and will give you access to a wide range of discounts for travel, among other things.

For example, if you are based in England, Northern Ireland, or Wales, you may be eligible to receive funding to help with travel costs if you are from a low-income household or receiving benefits. This funding can also be used for other study-related costs such as books, internet access, and childcare.

Additionally, if you are an OU student in Wales facing financial hardship, you may be eligible to receive a free TOTUM card through a pilot scheme partnership between the OU Students Association and The Open University.

When travelling by train, OU students may be able to take advantage of student discounts offered by train companies. For example, Amtrak offers a 15% discount on train tickets for students, which can be applied automatically when qualifying travel is selected or by using a discount code through their app.

It is important to note that some travel discounts may have age restrictions, so be sure to review the specific terms and conditions of each discount program or card to ensure your eligibility.

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Entertainment discounts

Students at the Open University are entitled to a range of entertainment discounts. While it is unclear whether part-time students are eligible for the same discounts as full-time students, Open University students can apply for an NUS Extra Card, now known as a TOTUM Card, which offers discounts on entertainment. For example, one student reports that they managed to get cheap gym membership and cinema tickets with their NUS Extra Card.

There are also other ways for Open University students to access discounts. Students can download apps such as UNiDAYS and Student Beans to access online discounts and some in-store discounts. Students can also upload a photo to these apps to use as a student card. Additionally, Open University students can apply for a Totum card, which can be used for transport discounts.

Open University students are also eligible for XO Student Discounts membership, which provides access to exclusive online discounts. Students can also save money on clothing, with retailers such as ASOS offering at least 10% off for students.

Finally, Open University students may be able to access cheaper entry to cultural attractions such as museums and galleries by presenting their student card.

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Food and drink discounts

As a student of the Open University, you are entitled to a student card and the discounts that come with it. You can obtain your card by logging into your online student portal and uploading a photo of yourself along with your mailing address.

Restaurants and Cafes

Many restaurants and cafes offer student discounts. While the specific discounts vary, most offer a discount on every purchase. It's always worth checking with your local cafes and restaurants to see if they offer any student deals.

Some specific examples of food and drink discounts include:

  • Chick-fil-A: Free small drink with any purchase at participating locations.
  • DoorDash: DashPass for Students plan available at a discounted rate of $4.99/month.
  • Dunkin': Up to 10% off at participating locations.
  • Amazon Prime Student: Free for the first six months, then half-price ($7.49/month) thereafter.
  • Logitech: Up to 30% off when you join UNiDAYS.

Grocery Stores

In addition to restaurants and cafes, some grocery stores offer student discounts. For example, in the UK, students can get an NUS Extra Card (now known as a TOTUM Card) which provides discounts at several grocery stores, including Tesco and Sainsbury's. This card is available for purchase and can also serve as your student ID.

Software and Subscriptions

While not directly related to food and drink, several software and subscription services offer student discounts that can be useful for saving money on food-related expenses:

  • Adobe Creative Cloud: $19.99 per month for the first 12 months.
  • Evernote: Up to 40% off a full year of Evernote Professional.
  • Microsoft 365: $2.99 per month for the online version, plus 1TB of online storage.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, Open University students are entitled to student discounts.

You can apply for a student card, which will give you access to a variety of student discounts. To obtain your card, log in to your online student portal, upload a photo of yourself, and provide your mailing address.

With your student card, you can get discounts on clothing, food and drink, cinema tickets, public transport, and more.

Yes, you can download apps like UNiDAYS and Student Beans to access various online and in-store discounts. You can also sign up for accounts with these apps using your student email address.

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