You can get student discounts on software, hardware, streaming, mobility and culture as soon as you prove your student status. This usually works with your university email address, your student ID or your certificate of enrolment, and with online shops often through a verification portal. How much you save depends on the provider and changes all the time. More important than any percentage is therefore where you look and how verification works.
Student discounts at a glance
- For student discounts you almost always need proof of enrolment, either digital or printed.
- Portals such as UNiDAYS, Student Beans and the ISIC card bundle discounts. They are examples only and not a recommendation.
- For software, first ask whether your university offers campus licences, and only then look at manufacturer offers.
- Always compare the final price. A discount on a high list price is not automatically a bargain.
How does verification for student discounts work?
Online, providers usually check your status in one of three ways. The first is your university email address, the second is an upload of your certificate of enrolment, and the third is a portal that carries out the check for many brands. Which method applies is stated on the relevant discount page. In a shop, your student ID is often enough.
| Proof | Where common | Note |
|---|---|---|
| University email address | Online shops, software, subscriptions | Quick, but often no longer usable after you finish your studies |
| Certificate of enrolment | Retailers, culture, university partners | Present the current semester, keep the file ready |
| Student ID | Box office, museums, cinemas | Check the validity date |
| Verification portal | Online brands | You disclose data about your university and studies |
| ISIC | Travel and international partners | Check the partner list against your plans in advance |
For every verification, check which data you disclose and read the privacy notice. Give only what the provider needs for the check.
What do UNiDAYS, Student Beans and ISIC offer?
UNiDAYS and Student Beans are online portals that bundle discounts from many brands and check your student status once, so that you do not have to prove it again at every shop. The ISIC is an international student card, which is mainly meant to bring reductions abroad and with travel partners.
Whether a portal is worth it depends on what you buy. If you already shop regularly with participating brands, one-off verification saves time. If you rarely buy, you hardly need the portal. Create your profile with as few details as possible and check whether the discount there is really higher than the price directly at the retailer. Discounts for travel are covered in Cheap travel as a student (in German).
Where can students get software more cheaply?
As a student you get software most cheaply through campus licences from your university, then through educational licences from manufacturers, and last through free alternatives. Many universities provide licences for office programmes or specialist software. Ask the computing centre or IT department before you buy.
- Computing centre: campus licences and access, often with the university login.
- Manufacturers: educational licences that you unlock with a university email address or a certificate of enrolment.
- Free software: for many tasks such as word processing, image editing or statistics, there are free alternatives.
You will find a more detailed overview of programmes and licences under The best software for students (in German). If you buy software yourself, it may be tax-deductible. In a first degree this runs through special expenses (Sonderausgaben, in German) of up to 6,000 € a year, and after a completed initial training through business expenses. Keep the receipt and let the tax office clarify doubtful cases.
Do student discounts exist at Amazon and other large retailers?
Large retailers and platforms sometimes have their own programmes for students, often with a trial period, verification and their own terms. The current conditions can only be found on the provider’s current page, because they change frequently. Before you sign up, check three things: how long the benefit lasts, what the subscription costs afterwards, and how you cancel.
How do you find real bargains as a student?
You recognise a real bargain by comparing the final price with the normal market price, not by the discount figure. Also check shipping costs, minimum order values and return rules. Promotions around the start of the semester or Black Friday can lower prices, but they do not apply to every product.
- Set up a price alert tool or a wish list for products you need anyway.
- Combine discounts only if the terms allow it, and read the small print.
- For technology, check whether buying second-hand during your studies (in German) is the better choice.
A broader overview of the benefits linked to your student card is in the article on benefits for students (in German). Discounts on insurance are a separate topic and are covered under Student discounts on insurance (in German).
What should you watch out for with subscriptions and free trials?
With subscriptions, the end of the benefit decides whether you really save. Many student tariffs only run during your studies, or renew automatically at the full price after a free trial. Therefore note the start, the end and the notice period in your calendar.
- Only test paid services with a clear end date.
- Check every year whether your student tariff is still renewed and what applies afterwards.
- Share subscriptions only if the terms allow it.
- Cancel services you have not used in recent weeks.
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify my student status online?
Usually a university email address or an upload of your certificate of enrolment is enough. Some brands use a verification portal. The discount page states which method applies. Disclose only the data needed for the check, and keep a certificate from the current semester ready.
What are UNiDAYS and Student Beans?
Both are online portals that collect discounts from several brands and check your student status once. Whether an offer there is cheaper than buying directly from the retailer depends on the case, so compare. Read the privacy notice before you register.
Are there software discounts for students?
Yes, mainly through campus licences from your university and educational licences from manufacturers. Ask the computing centre first. For many tasks there is also free software. When you look at manufacturer offers, check how long the student tariff lasts and what becomes payable afterwards.
Can I get a student discount without a student ID?
Often yes, because many providers accept the certificate of enrolment or the university email address. On site, a photo of the certificate on your phone can help. The best way to find out whether a provider accepts it is to check its website in advance or ask at the till.
What to do now
- Keep your university email address, student ID and current certificate of enrolment ready digitally.
- Ask the computing centre about campus licences before you buy software.
- Compare final prices with the normal market price and note the end date and notice period of every subscription.
- Check portals only if you are buying from participating brands anyway.
Related articles
- Building wealth during your studies (in German)
- The best everyday saving tips for students (in German)
- Getting around cheaply as a student (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The portals and brands mentioned are examples, not recommendations. The German version is authoritative.
