When it comes to budgeting as a South African student, the struggle is real. You’ve heard about all the best discounts and deals, but you have no idea where to get them. Don’t worry, we got you!
Here’s where you can save money as a student living in South Africa:
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Student Discount Apps
There’s a mobile app for everything nowadays, and yes, that includes student discounts. Whether you’re looking to spice up your varsity wardrobe or check out what entertainment Mzansi has to offer, there’s a discount for every occasion.
All you have to do is open your Play Store or Apple iStore and search for any one of the following:
Varsity Vibe
You’re going to want to sit down for this one. Not only does Varsity Vibe have a freemium option for students but it has all the latest and most exclusive deals for your favourite South African brands—including Cotton On, Burger King, and Dischem. Needless to say, it’s a vibe.
Eager to join Varsity Vibe? Here’s what you need to know:
- How do I sign up? Simply click on this link, fill in your details, and you’re good to go!
- Can anyone become a member? The student discounts are exclusive to South African students of any age with a valid student number. With that said, anyone between the ages of 16-25 who has a Standard Bank account is able to get premium access to the Varsity Vibe discounts without having to be a student (score!).
- What do I need to become a member? If you’re an SA student with an iPhone or Android and you’ve got R200 to spare for a membership, you’re covered.
- Do I really need the app? Yes, you do. The only way to redeem any deals is through the app.
- How much does a Varsity Vibe membership cost? The freemium student discounts are, you guessed it, FREE. If you want additional deals, you’ll have to register for the premium membership, which is a once-off annual fee of R200 (or a mere R17 a month).
- Where can I download the Varsity Vibe app? You can download the app from the Google Play Store or the Apple iStore.
UNiDAYS
Founded in 2011, this global app offers great deals for a variety of South African brands. Save on everything from food, beauty, and lifestyle to health and fitness. Registering an account is absolutely free to all students.
Need more information? Here’s what you need to know:
- Who can sign up? Any student with a valid institution email address or student ID card can register.
- Do I have to download the app? Although it’s not necessary to download the app, the pros of having it far outweigh any cons. Need more convincing? Then check out the top four reasons to download the UNiDAYS app here.
- How much does a UNiDAYS membership cost? It’s 100% free for any student in SA wanting to sign up.
- Where can I download the UNiDAYS app? Download the app on iStore or Google Play here.
The Entertainer
Who can resist 2-for-1 deals? This discount app is filled with freebies and offers in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. The only catch? You have to pay a yearly fee of R348 (or R29 per month) if you want premium access to all the deals.
However, If you’re with FNB, you’re in luck! You can sign up for this app without paying a cent.
Here’s how:
1. Log into your FNB app.
2. Tap the ‘eBucks tab, ‘Partnerships’ and then ‘Entertainer’.
3. Select ‘Register’.
4. Follow the prompts.
5. Submit your details.
6. Accept the terms and conditions.
You can find other discounts and deals in SA here:
Student Discount Restaurants
Food hits different when it’s practically free.
Make 2-Minute-Noodle dinners a thing of the past and stock up on these tasty deals instead. That’s right foodies, we’re talking about restaurant discounts (the best kind of discount if we’re being honest).
These SA restaurants understand the pain of trying to pass off All Gold and Provitas as a charcuterie board. That’s why they’ve partnered up with Varsity Vibe to offer university students only the best food deals money can buy.
Check it out:
- Vida e Caffè
- Del Forno
- Kauai
- Nando’s
- Krispy Kreme
- Hard Rock Cafe
- Debonairs
- Burger King
- Fishaways
Discount Online Stores
There’s more to being a South African student than just studying and attending lectures. In fact, people often claim that your student years are some of the best of your life.
To make sure you’re getting the best out of the whole experience, these online stores are offering student discounts on clothing, technology, and streaming services.
Clothing Discounts
Time to shed that uniform and slip into something a little more “you”. And let’s be honest: Those grade 10 jeans you’ve been holding onto only have about one or two wears left in them.
Time to make that first impression count.
Get student discounts on your favourite online clothing stores through Varsity Vibe:
- Superbalist
- The Fix
- Cotton On
- Zando
- SportSA
Did you know that you can get incredible deals and promotions from Code through FundiConnect? That’s right, we’ve got the latest in men’s fashion right here.
Tech Discounts
It’s important to write notes at varsity, but those finger cramps are next level. This makes typing an absolute lifesaver. Not only that, but you need a place to store all your assignments (and occasionally stream your favourite shows).
Apple is well aware of this, which is why the technology company is letting you save between 2% and 5% on your next Mac or iPad.
If you’re stuck on the opposite side of the Apple debate, then check out these fantastic deals on laptops, mobile phones, tablets, and more.
Streaming Services
There’s no better way to wind down than by binge-watching your favourite series during the holidays. That’s why Amazon has a Prime Student package so that you can make the most out of your free time.
When you’re not streaming videos or hanging out with friends—you’re studying. And if you’re one of those people who can only learn while listening to music, you’re in luck.
For only R29.99 a month, you can get unlimited access to ad-free music on Spotify. The best part? The first month is entirely free, so if you’re not exactly loving it, you can opt out at any point.
Mobile Phone Discounts
If you’re under the age of 25, you can enjoy exclusive access to data bundles, discounts, and deals with any one of the following mobile service providers.
- MTN Pulse is a youth platform designed to offer affordable data bundles. This means students can get 10GB of data for only R49 a week.
- Vodacom NXT LVL offers big data deals at a great price. Get up to 10GB of data plus 120+ minutes for R99.
- Telkom partnered with Varsity Vibe to offer students discounts on airtime and data. Starting at a mere R19, members get full, unlimited access to all the exclusive deals Telkom has to offer—year-round.
Discount Activities
Look, semester breaks are awesome, but it’s so easy to run out of things to do.
That’s why these places are offering exclusive student discounts and deals to anyone in dire need of entertainment:
- SANParks: Get a wild 30% off camping, activities, and accommodation at one of South Africa’s greatest national parks.
- South African Airways: Go on holiday with your friends or travel home to visit the family at a spectacular discount with SAA airways.
- Yo Yoga: Slash 10-25% off your next yoga session and relax those post-exam stress muscles once and for all.
- Gautrain: Are you even from Joburg if you’ve never been on the Gautrain? Make your next trip a memorable one and save 25% on your next trip.
- Icarus Paragliding: Embrace your adventurous side and cross “paragliding” off your bucket list the next time you explore the Mother City.
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