Student Discounts and Free Resources in Canada

Many technology companies and schools offer student pricing or free access, but the eligible products, prices, and verification rules change. Check the provider and your school before buying.

• Apple Education Store — Check current education pricing and seasonal promotions for eligible devices at apple.com/ca/shop/go/education.
• Microsoft 365 Education — Some schools provide Microsoft apps and cloud services at no cost. Access and included features depend on your school account and licence.
• Adobe Creative Cloud — Adobe offers education pricing on eligible plans. Compare the current student price and renewal terms with your school’s software access before subscribing.
• GitHub Student Developer Pack — Eligible students can apply for a bundle of developer tools and services. Individual partner offers, limits, and availability change.
• JetBrains, Notion, Figma, and Autodesk — These providers have education programs for some products. Check enrollment verification, product coverage, and renewal conditions on each provider’s site.
• Spotify, YouTube Premium, and Amazon Prime — Check each Canadian student plan for the current price, trial length, included services, and eligibility requirements.
• Samsung, Lenovo, Dell, and other device makers — Education stores or student portals may offer pricing on selected products. Compare the final price with regular sales and warranty terms.

Many Canadian banks and credit unions have student accounts, but fees, transaction limits, eligibility, and account-conversion rules vary. Compare the current account terms and consider whether you need a branch or ATM network.

Some issuers offer credit cards designed for students, but approval, credit limits, annual fees, and rewards depend on the issuer and applicant. Compare the card agreement and use a card only if you can pay each statement balance in full.

Recommended No-Fee Banks

Tangerine — No-Fee Banking

Compare current no-fee banking options, savings rates, access to cash, account limits, and eligibility on the provider’s website.

Open an Account →

EQ Bank — High-Interest Savings

Review the provider’s current savings rate, promotional period, account terms, and deposit-insurance coverage before opening an account.

Start Saving →

Wealthsimple — Start Investing Early

Learn about investing accounts and fees, and review the current terms and risks before investing money you may need for school or emergencies.

Start Investing →

Food is one of the biggest expenses for students. These discounts and strategies can save you hundreds of dollars per semester.

• Restaurants — Student pricing and promotions are location-specific and can change. Ask the business or check its current app and offer terms.
• UNiDAYS and Student Beans — Free apps that aggregate student discounts for food chains, delivery services, and grocery brands. Sign up with your school email.
• SPC (Student Price Card) — A paid student discount program. Check the current membership fee, participating businesses, and offer exclusions before joining.
• Flashfood — Not student-specific, but useful for finding discounted groceries near their best-before date at participating stores. Items and discounts vary by location.
• Too Good To Go — Surprise bags of unsold food from participating businesses. Prices, contents, and pickup times vary by location.

Food Discount Apps

Flashfood — Discounted Groceries

Find discounted near-expiry groceries at participating stores. Availability and markdowns vary; the current referral offer requires a first purchase of at least $15.

Download Flashfood →

Too Good To Go — Surprise Food Bags

Browse surprise bags of unsold food from participating local businesses. Price, contents, pickup window, and availability vary.

Download Too Good To Go →

FoodHero — Surplus Food Deals

Browse surplus food from participating local stores. Check current availability and offer terms in the app.

Download FoodHero →

Getting around as a student doesn't have to drain your wallet. Most Canadian cities offer significant transit discounts, and there are deals on intercity travel too.

• University transit passes (U-Pass) — Many schools negotiate bulk transit passes included in your tuition fees. Vancouver's TransLink U-Pass is one of the best deals in the country. Check if your school participates.
• City transit student passes — Some transit agencies and schools offer reduced fares or U-Pass programs. Check eligibility and whether the pass is included in student fees.
• VIA Rail and intercity buses — Compare current student fares, discount codes, passes, restrictions, and booking conditions before purchasing.
• Auto insurance — Ask your insurer whether it offers a student or good-student discount and what documentation and eligibility rules apply.
• Car-sharing — Communauto and Zipcar both offer student plans. Much cheaper than owning a car if you only drive occasionally.
• Bike share — Most cities with bike share programs (Toronto Bike Share, Mobi by Shaw in Vancouver, BIXI in Montreal) offer discounted student annual memberships.

From everyday clothing to electronics, there are student discounts hiding everywhere. The trick is knowing where to look and always asking.

• SPC, UNiDAYS, and Student Beans — Check participating Canadian retailers, the current membership price, eligible items, and whether offers stack with sale prices.
• Clothing, electronics, and other retailers — Search the retailer’s Canadian student or education page and compare the final price with current sales and other retailers.

Rakuten — Cashback on Online Shopping

Earn cashback at hundreds of Canadian retailers every time you shop online. Free to join — just activate Rakuten before you checkout. Stacks on top of student discounts and sale prices.

Join Rakuten Free →

Entertainment subscriptions add up fast. Here's how to cut those costs as a student.

Museums, galleries, and cultural institutions may offer student admission or free days. Check each venue’s current admission policy, age limits, and accepted student identification.

Health coverage is one of those things students often don't think about until they need it. Here's what you need to know.

• Provincial health insurance — If you're a Canadian resident and student, you're covered by your province's health plan (OHIP, RAMQ, MSP, etc.). This covers doctor visits, hospital stays, and medically necessary procedures.
• School health and dental plan — Most colleges and universities automatically enroll you in an extended health and dental plan as part of your student fees. This typically covers prescriptions, dental cleanings, vision care, mental health services, and paramedical services (massage, physio, chiropractic).
• International students (UHIP/UHCIP) — If you're an international student without provincial health coverage, your school will enroll you in UHIP (University Health Insurance Plan) or equivalent. This is mandatory and covers basic medical services.
• Renter's insurance — Compare quotes and policy limits for your address and belongings. Check exclusions, deductibles, liability coverage, and whether a parent’s policy already covers you.

The students who save the most money aren't just using one or two discounts — they're systematic about it. Here's the playbook.

1. 1Always ask "do you have a student discount?" — Many businesses offer them but don't advertise it. You'd be surprised how often the answer is yes.
2. 2Sign up for UNiDAYS, Student Beans, and SPC on day one — These three platforms cover hundreds of Canadian and international brands between them.
3. 3Use your school email for every software and service signup — Even if a student discount isn't advertised, many companies automatically detect school email addresses and offer deals.
4. 4Check your school's free resources — Libraries offer way more than books: free access to LinkedIn Learning, Grammarly, newspapers, research databases, 3D printers, recording studios, and equipment loans.
5. 5Check whether offers require current enrollment verification; a school email alone may not qualify, and eligibility can end at graduation.
6. 6Stack discounts whenever possible — Student discount + sale price + cashback credit card + Rakuten = maximum savings on every purchase.
7. 7Compare textbook options before buying. Check the syllabus for the required edition, then compare new, used, rental, library reserve, and legal digital options.
8. 8Use student tax credits — The tuition tax credit (T2202) and the Canada Training Credit can put real money back in your pocket at tax time. See our Student Finances guide for details.