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Personal Development

How to get a Student ID Card in UK?

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Lead Academy

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A Student ID Card is a must for every student in the UK to prove their identity. Along with the student status, this ID card can make a student’s life easier by allowing them to afford their necessities at a cut price.

Wondering how? Give a read to this blog to know how to get a student ID card in the UK and the multiple purposes it serves.

Student Holding Plastic Student ID Card


What is a Student ID Card?

A Student ID Card is an identification card that includes information such as name, date of birth, photo, card validity date and the name of the academic institution you study. After collecting your student ID card, it will work as a proof of your studentship.

The students of schools, colleges and universities are eligible for different types of ID cards depending on their country of residence, type of academic institution, and age.

Typically, a full-time student of the school, college or university having age above 12, can apply for a student ID card.

The most common type of student ID card is the physical plastic one, but with the advancement of technology, the digital types are also getting popular these days.

A Student Displays His Student ID Card


Why do you need a Student ID Card?

You would need a student ID card for the following purposes:

  • To prove your student status
  • To have access to your college/university facilities
  • To confirm your identity during exams
  • To borrow books from the library
  • To avail student discounts from shops, transports, tickets, etc.

Order a Free Student ID Card

Lead Academy provide a free pdf student ID card when you will enrol any course at Lead Academy. For plastic ID card Handling & Shipping Charge – £7.99.

What do you need for having a Student ID Card?

You can opt for a student ID card after enrolling at your institution. Most of the institutions have their own ID cards. You can apply for your card online through your institution’s website. To get a student ID card in the UK, all you need is either a passport or a birth certificate, proof of your admission and a passport size photo to print or upload, and within a few days you will get your student ID card.

A Student Places His ID Card On The Table


How to get a University Student ID Card in UK:

As a university student, you would get a free student ID card in the UK issued by the university authority. To get the card, you have to follow some simple steps as mentioned below:

1. Get enrolled online:

You need to get your new university email and password before applying for a Student ID card in the UK. If you have already opened your student account, you can apply for the student ID card.

2. Confirm your Term-Time Address:

You should verify your Term-time UK address; and yes, it obviously needs to be in the UK. This address confirms where the student ID card is to be posted.

A Student ID Card Demonstration

3. Have a passport-style photo:

You would need a passport-style photo to upload for the ID card.

4. Keep your photo identification document ready:

Your passport or driver’s license would work as your photo identification document. Keep any of these with you to upload a good quality copy using your phone camera.

5. Start your student ID card application:

You can now start the student ID card application by logging in with your university email and password. If applicable, book an appointment to receive your student ID.

A Female Student Showing ID Card in Library


Can Student ID Cards in the UK be used as ID?

With your student ID card in the UK, you can gain access to your college or university resources, campus purchases, gain attendance information and serve other functions. You can also use your ID off-campus for discounts at restaurants, local retail stores, movie theatres and public transit locations.

Since most of the student ID cards in the UK include the student’s name, photo, school logo and are issued by educational institutions, they can function as proof of identity in some cases. The acceptance of the ID depends on the issuing body and the purpose of use. Moreover, the student ID needs to be issued by an accredited school to be considered valid.

How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Student ID card?

The replacement procedure of lost/stolen ID cards might vary depending on the institution you are studying. Usually, you need to fill up the replacement form and submit it to the concerned authority for the replacement. Though the student ID is free of cost, you will have to pay for the new one. If your card gets stolen, you need to report this to the Police Assistance Line.


A Female Student is Pleased to Receive a Discount for Displaying her Student ID Card.

Some Student Discount ID Cards of UK:

As a student, you might worry about every penny you spend on your purchases. Whether or not, you wait for the discount offers from your favourite stores. If you have a student discount card, you won’t need to wait for the offers anymore. You can easily avail discounts by showing your discount ID cards.

The student discount cards work in a range of sectors like high street stores, restaurants, travel and so on. The amount of discount usually depends on the card you show at the point of purchase. Typically, students with an ID card are offered around 10%-20% off the price. Some of the mentionable student discount cards of the UK are:


International Student Identity Card (ISIC)

The ISIC is an internationally recognised ID card that can prove your student status. It is recognised in 130 countries around the world. The card can be used by overseas students while applying for a driving license or when they don’t want to carry their passports around.

If you’re a full-time student and aged 12 or over, you can apply for a student card with ISIC. ISIC offers both virtual and plastic cards, allowing the students’ access to over 150,000 student discounts and offers worldwide.

The cost of the card depends on which country you are in, ranging from $4-25. If you reside in the UK, the card would cost £12 for a virtual copy and £15 for the plastic one.


Three Students are Applying for NUS Card Together

NUS Card

The NUS Card is a student identification card that gives access to discounts for travel, food, entertainment and many more.

With your NUS student card, you can apply for a student TV License or even tax exemption. The process for getting the NUS discount card is relatively hassle-free. You can apply for the NUS card through the NUS website and find out the latest offers and deals in detail.

If you are a student living in the UK, then the NUS card would cost you £13 for one year, £22 for two years and £32 for three years. You can check the TOTUM Card website, powered by the NUS, to find out all the NUS card discount offers.


UNiDAYS

UNiDAYS card is another popular student discount card that offers discounts online and in-store. It uses an app in place of the physical plastic cards. You have to show your profile on the app to avail the discounts.

Any university or college student in the UK above 16 years old can join UNiDAYS. You just have to create an account in UNiDAYS using your academic email address and then apply the various discount codes to websites at the checkout. UNiDAYS offers student discounts with brands such as Apple, Asos, Benefit, Urban Outfitters and many more.


Student Beans

Similar to that of UniDAYS, you don’t need to pay for the discount card. You can easily sign-up to the Student Beans website for free to gain access to a wide range of discounts.

Student Beans partnered with 500 brands and its software can verify 163 million students in 52 different countries. The Student Beans card offers discounts at more than 10,000 stores online and on the high street stores.


With the Discount Cards you can avail:

  • Travel
  • Driving Lessons
  • Student Accommodation
  • Fitness & Leisure Clubs
  • Dine-ins and Takeaways
  • Educational Resources
  • Technology & Gadgets
  • Health & Beauty

Benefits of having Student Discount Cards:

In general, some of the benefits of student discount cards are:

  • You can often use the cards as ID to prove your identity, especially as a student.
  • You can use these globally accepted cards anywhere around the world.
  • You can also use the student ID card for dining out to buy educational resources like books, stationery, etc.
  • Furthermore, you can use them for online shopping.

How to be Eligible for a Student Discount Card in the UK?

You can be eligible for a student discount card if you are above 16 and are a part-time or full-time student. The process of getting a card is usually very simple though the method can vary for each card.

Some cards allow their users to be younger than 16. The ISIC card, for instance, allows its users to apply for their UK discount card at the age of 12. You can use the card as long as you’re studying for a minimum of 15 hours a week and have been doing so for 3 months at a stretch.


Get your Student ID Card from Lead Academy!

Do you know you can easily get your Student ID Card from Lead Academy and enjoy some lucrative discount offers from a number of brands? The Lead Academy student ID card offers you a one year validity, proof of studentship and opportunities to avail discounts. With a minimal amount of fee and your favourable payment method, you can have your ID card from the Lead Academy website.

 

A Students Shopping Online At Home

How much does a Student Discount Card Cost?

The cost of a student card would depend on the card you go for. The cards can cost roughly around £10-30. The validity of a card is approximately a year.

Some student discount cards are also available for free in the UK. For example, a UNiDAYS card requires a profile in the app instead of buying through payment. The card, just like other cards, offers discounts on food, clothing, and tech.

However, it might be possible to avail other student cards without paying a penny. Some banks often offer these cards free of cost if you sign up for an undergraduate account.


Conclusion:

Whether you are a local or an international student studying in the UK, it is very important for you to know how to get a student ID card in the UK. As the blog narrates every detail of obtaining a student card along with the discount cards and their benefits, getting an ID for yourself shouldn’t be troublesome.


FAQ Related to Student ID Card

Can student cards be used as ID?

Yes, your student ID card is an official ID which you can use accordingly, too.

My student ID card has been stolen, what do I do?

You can easily apply for a new one, but it will cost you a bit to withdraw a new card.

What is an NUS card for students?

NUS is a type of student ID card. So it’s a given that you’ll be able to use it as a discount card too.

How much is a student card?

Usually, if you’re in a university or any such educational institution, they’ll give you the ID card for free. However, custom cards like UniDays or NUS will cost you between £5 to £25, depending on the benefit they provide you.

How long a student card works as a student id card?

Usually, a card will last the total time of your degree. Custom cards, however, range from 1-3 years.

Is student ID and student number the same?

When you enrol, you will receive a Student ID number. Your ID card also includes your Student ID number.


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