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The types of stores that offer these kinds of discounts vary. It depends on which province you’re located in and where you choose to shop. Let’s take a look at a few different options.
Best Student Discounts in Canada
While there are plenty of different student discounts in Canada, a few that are commonly used are considered to be the best. These discounts include savings on laptops, electronics and more. Since these companies don’t charge full price for students, you can find some great deals in-store in person and with online purchases.
Apple
With Apple, as a student or a teacher, you can save money on certain products with education pricing. The savings that you’ll get are based on the product that you purchase. Plus, right now, you can get up to a $200 gift card with purchase. This offer ends on September 30, 2024.
Dell
As a college or university student, you can get Dell student discounts on Dell laptops. All you have to do to receive your discount coupon is enter your email address, and then it will be sent to you. Plus, with every purchase, Dell donates to Computer Aid.
SPC
If you’re 13 or older and a student in Canada, you can get the Student Price Card, which is one of the most popular student discount programs in Canada. This card has an annual fee of only $11.99 and offers you discounts on plenty of different stores throughout the country. If you bank with CIBC, though, then you can get your SPC card for free.
With SPC, hundreds of different stores and big brands offer 10-20% off everyday purchases, including retail discounts. This is a great way for students to save money on everyday purchases and get exclusive deals with their favourite stores. You can redeem discounts by showing your card at participating retailers.
Student Beans
Student Beans is another way for Canadian students to save money on some of their favourite brands. All you need is your student ID (international student identity cards work, too) to sign up online for this student discount program. With this program, you can get discounts at:
- Costco
- Hello Fresh
- Chefs Plate
- H&M
These are just a few, though. There are plenty of other stores that offer some awesome discounts with Student Beans, as well. The best part is that there’s no pre-paid package you need to purchase. Depending on the discounts you choose, you can save money on monthly fees, monthly passes, and many other purchases.
Unidays
Unidays offers discounts on fashion, health, fitness, lifestyle and tech products. All you need to sign up is your email and your valid student ID card. From there, you can download the Unidays app and get all of your discounts online.
Student Discounts Based on Province
While the programs above offer plenty of amazing discounts, there are other places and stores that offer discounts to students in certain provinces. Let’s take a look at some of these places.
Ontario
In Ontario, there are certain grocery stores that offer student discounts. Food Basics offers a 10% discount on Tuesdays, Metro offers 10% off Tuesday to Thursday, and 10% on Tuesdays at Loblaws and Sobeys.
In Ontario, you can also get 5% off at Fanshawe Driving School. All you have to do is present your valid student ID. Those who use a Presto card can also get 40% off.
British Columbia
In BC, there are a ton of student deals, including student passes to the Capilano Suspension Bridge and the Vancouver Aquarium. However, it can be difficult to track them all down. This is where the The Deals App for BC Students comes in. All you have to do is download the app and put it in your location; from there, you will see all of the places that offer student discounts.
Alberta
Depending on where you go to school in Alberta, you can get discounts at Cineplex, Rexall, West Edmonton Mall, and Choice Hotels. This is along with all of the other Canadian discounts that you can qualify for as a student.
Manitoba
In Manitoba, you have access to the same perks as the rest of Canada, as well as a few extras. These included discounts on TD insurance, basketball tickets and boating licenses. Certain local stores also offer their own discounts.
Saskatchewan
In Saskatchewan, you not only have access to great deals at stores and online, but you can also get some discounts on your bills. Certain companies offer discounts on Internet, TV and cell phone plans. You can also get an ISIC card, which will give you additional discounts and is valid for 16 months from the time you get it.
Grocery Stores With Student Discounts
As we already mentioned, certain grocery stores will offer student discounts. However, these discounts seem to be available only in Ontario at the moment. In other provinces, you don’t get any grocery discounts.
Costco and Student Discounts
While Costco doesn’t offer a discount on its owner, they do offer discounts with their partner Student Beans. When you sign up for an executive or a Gold Star membership, you can get up to $120 off your next online purchase.
In order to access this deal, you go to the Student Beans site and make sure you have a membership. Once you’ve done that, you can select the offer and sign up through Costco.ca. You’ll receive an email with a code to get your discount.
Other Stores and Places that Offer Student Discounts
While we have mentioned quite a few different places that offer student discounts, we’ve barely scratched the surface. Here are a few more that are great choices for students. Chances are you would use some of these services anyway.
Lenovo
In Canada, Lenovo offers Lenovo student discounts on laptop purchases for students, teachers, and parents. Post-secondary students can get an extra 5% discount on any Lenovo purchase. All you need is a letter of acceptance or your Student ID to prove your student status.
From July 22 to August 18, the Lenovo education store offers discounts for students in kindergarten to Grade 12 and their parents. Teachers can also get a discount at any time with ID, just like those receiving post-secondary education.
Microsoft
With Microsoft, there are no specific deals on laptops; it's just back-to-school sales. However, as a student or teacher, you can get Microsoft Teams for free as well as Office 365 education for free. As a college or university student, you can get 50% off your Microsoft 365 Personal subscription.
Amazon Prime
As a student in Canada, you can get a variety of discounts, including a discount on your monthly Amazon Prime subscription. Instead of the regular cost of $9.99 per month, you only pay $4.99 per month. If you sign up now, you can also get a free trial for 6 months with no fees.
When you sign up for Amazon Prime, you don’t just get free delivery on your purchases. You can also get prime video and prime music. Depending on your subscription, Prime Music may have a fee.
Spotify
In Canada, you can choose to have the free version of Spotify or upgrade to Spotify Premium. The cost of Spotify premium is $10.99 per month; however, as a student, you can get it for only $5.99 per month with the Spotify student discount.
The student version of Spotify Premium includes all of the same features as traditional Spotify. These are:
- Ad-free music
- Listening online
- Millions of songs
- Better sound quality
Apple Music
As long as you are a post-secondary student in a degree-granting school, you can get Apple student discounts on Apple Music for up to 48 months. In order to qualify for this, you do have to verify that you’re a student, but you can do this during the subscription process. The student rate is only $5.99 per month.
Dairy Queen
While Dairy Queen discounted products aren’t usually offered year-round, they do offer frequent student meal deals as well as discount cards. In order to get yours, be sure to see your local Dairy Queen to see when they’re available and how you can receive them.
Subway
Student offers with Subway aren’t year-round either. That said, they’re offered occasionally and exclusively on Student Beans. When the offer appears, you just grab the discount codes and use them before they expire.
Staples
Occasionally, Staples will offer student discounts to those who are students. These offers aren’t year-round, though. However, you should always check the Staples website because, even if there aren’t student discounts, there are still plenty of coupons and clearance items available.
Via Rail
If you’re a youth or student and travelling with Via Rail, you can receive a 12.5% discount for you and 3 of your companions, including adult fares. You can use Via Rail to travel by train across Canada, no matter where you’re planning to go.
Best Buy
Instead of offering student discounts, Best Buy offers back-to-school deals. These deals are available to everyone but are great for parents and students. You can save money not only on laptops but also on accessories, electronics, and more.
Telus
Right now, you can score some great deals on phones and plans with back-to-school discounts with Telus. Plus, if you’re a student, you can get some extra deals through Student Beans. You can get cell phone plans starting at just $60 per month, as well as an extra $5 off any Telus SmartWear Security Device.
Book Outlet
With Book Outlet, you can purchase books up to 90% off the retail price. Plus, as a student registered with Student Beans, you can get this discount for a year. Throughout the year, though, there will be other student discounts posted that you can take advantage of as well.
Good Life
With Good Life, if you’re a student and have a full-price 12 or 18-month membership, you can get 20% off. You just need to prove your student status in order to receive this offer. It’s also not available at all locations.
That said, they often offer promotional discounts that are cheaper than the student discount. So, even if your gym doesn’t offer a student discount, you can still get some really great deals.
Bath and Body Works
With the SPC card program, Bath and Body Works offers 10% off their purchases for SPC members. This is a year-round discount. Plus, they occasionally offer discounts with Student Beans as well. Currently, you can get 20% off your purchase with free shipping after you spend $50.
Bulk Barn
While Bulk Barn does offer a discount day and other sales throughout the year, you can still get a Bulk Barn student discount. This discount can be found through Student Beans, which offers 15% off your entire purchase.
Sephora
If you shop for your beauty products with Sephora and are looking for the best deals, you might be interested to know that you can receive discounts throughout the year as a student. Sephora promotes its own discounts as well as discounts with SPC and Student Beans.
Adobe Creative Cloud
If you’re in the market to purchase creative cloud, you may be interested to know that they offer student and teacher discounts. You can actually get 60% off of your purchase.
HP
In Canada, you can sign up for HP student discounts using HP Academy Canada. This program offers discounts to students, parents, teachers, and school staff when HP products are purchased. You can easily sign up online and start saving today.
St. Louis Bar & Grill
If you have an SPC card, you can start saving when you go to St Louis Bar & Grill. Currently, you can get a free poutine upgrade when you order fries. Keep an eye out because these offers will change.
Discounts for University Students
In Canada, almost all discounts for students are available to University students. Since there are so many discounts out there, it may be difficult to find the one you’re looking for. The best way to find student discounts is to search for the brand or place you’re looking for directly. This will tell you any discounts that they offer as well as what brands they partner with. You may already be eligible for these discounts but do not even know it. Another thing to consider is that you may also be eligible for student credit cards.
Discounts for High School Students
When it comes to discounts for high school students, the options are more limited. This is why it’s important to have an SPC card. It can be shown at any of the hundreds of participating retailers to receive your discount. You also don’t have to apply. All you need to do is submit your student ID and start saving.
Once you get the SPC card, you’ll receive a list of all of the partner brands as well exclusive discounts as deals. You’ll get these quite often through email or text.
Final Thoughts
In Canada, many businesses recognize that students often have limited funds due to the cost of tuition and books and are looking to cut costs. Because of this, they offer discounts either by partnering with other brands or providing them themselves.
No matter what type of student you are, you can usually qualify for most of these discounts. Partners like SPC, Student Beans, and Unidays are great resources for finding discounts you’re looking for at low or no cost. All you need to do is prove you’re a student. Even if the business isn’t actively advertising a student discount, it doesn’t hurt to inquire, either.
