Share an offer

Can You Get a Student Discount Without Being a Student?

Short answer: you should not fake student status. But some “student” offers are open to non-students, and there are good legal alternatives.

Published October 23, 2026

Offers that do not require you to be a student

  • Amazon Prime for Young Adults: open to anyone aged 18–24, no school needed. See Prime Student.
  • 16-25 Railcard (UK): anyone aged 16–25 gets 1/3 off rail fares. See 16-25 Railcard.
  • Apple education pricing for parents: parents of college students can buy for their student. See Apple.
  • TOTUM (UK): also open to apprentices and some professional and public-sector groups. See TOTUM.
  • Headspace alumni plan: graduates move to 40% off for a year. See Headspace.

Just graduated?

Most student prices stop when you can no longer verify, but a few brands soften the landing. Headspace moves graduates to an alumni plan at 40% off for a year, Spotify keeps your student price until the end of your current 12-month period, and the UK 16-25 Railcard works until you are 26 whether you study or not. Our graduation countdown lists what happens to each offer.

Why faking it is a bad idea

Using someone else’s school email, a borrowed ID or an edited document breaks the brand’s terms and can be fraud. Brands check after purchase: Apple, for example, can ask for proof after you order and cancel the order without it. Verification services keep records, so an account can be closed and future discounts refused.

  • Family and Duo plans split between friends or flatmates often cost less per person than an individual plan.
  • Refurbished tech from the manufacturer usually comes with a warranty and costs less than new.
  • Seasonal sales like Black Friday and back-to-school can match or beat student prices for everyone.
  • Free tiers of Notion, Canva, Figma and Microsoft 365 for the web cover a lot of everyday needs.
  • Short courses can count: some programs accept part-time or online students; if you are taking an accredited course, check whether you qualify.

Students also ask

Can I use my old student email after graduating?

No. Most offers require current enrollment, and re-verification will fail once you have finished. Using it anyway breaks the brand’s terms.

Do any brands give discounts to young people instead of students?

Yes. Prime for Young Adults (18–24) and the UK 16-25 Railcard are based on age, not enrollment.

Can my parents use my student discount?

Only where the brand allows it. Apple lets parents of college students buy at education prices; most subscriptions are tied to the verified student’s own account and cannot be shared.

Do part-time students count as students?

Often yes: Microsoft, Headspace and ID.me accept part-time students. Some offers, like Met Opera student tickets, require full-time study.

No .edu Email? Still Get Student Discounts
Read the guide
What Has Student Discounts?
Read the guide
Student Beans vs UNiDAYS vs ID.me
Read the guide
Did this work for you?

Sources we checked

Report a problem with this page

What is wrong?