Student discounts in Birmingham: a complete list of the best deals & offers

Studying in Birmingham and love a bit of savvy saving? Good news: the city is packed with student discounts that can seriously reduce your spending on everything from clothes and food to travel and nights out.

In this complete guide, we’ve compiled all the top student discounts in Birmingham across key categories like shopping, food and drink and nightlife, giving you plenty of ways to save during your time in the city.

TLDR: Birmingham students get exclusive access to loads of epic deals – most shopping and food and drink discounts are available through platforms like UNiDAYS and Student Beans, and there are some great discounts at leisure and nightlife destinations, as well as handy savings on travel and subscription services.

Shopping 🛍️

Birmingham's city centre is packed with major brands loved by students, particularly along New Street and in the Bullring. Most offer student discounts through UNiDAYS, Student Beans or by simply showing your student ID – so don’t forget to ask when you’re at the till!

If you’re looking for big savings on fashion, here are the top spots to seek out:

• Levi's — Time to upgrade your denim? Treat yourself to a proper pair of jeans and grab a generous 20% discount in the process at the Levi’s Bullring store.
• Urban Outfitters — A treasure trove of indie pieces and quirky homeware, the Corporation Street store offers 10% student discount on everything.
• Nike — Need some new Air Force 1s? Gym gear? Or some just cosy trackies for stay-at-home days? Shop with 10% off at the massive Bullring store.
• size? — Great for trendy streetwear and the latest trainers, the New Street store offers 10% off sale and full price items.
• The North Face — Find them in the Bullring for 10% student discount on puffers, fleeces and other outdoor essentials.
• JD Sports — With locations in the Bullring and on New Street, JD Sports gives you 10% off trainers and sportswear from major brands.
• Footasylum — Another excellent option for shopping the latest footwear, the Bullring store offers students 10% off.
• Dr. Martens — The Bullring store has a 10% discount on its signature shoes and boots, which goes a long way if you’re investing in a pair of DMs.

Food & drink 🍝

When it comes to cafes, restaurants and fast food spots, Birmingham has just about every name you could think of – and many of the big chains offer student discounts. So whether you’re planning a family meal or a casual bite with your friends, there are lots of affordable options.

These are the best food and drink discounts on offer to students:

• Zizzi — With three locations in the city centre, Zizzi offers major savings of up to 30% off food when visiting Sunday to Friday.
• Bella Italia — Another brilliant Italian option handily placed on New Street, with a generous 30% student discount valid Sunday to Thursday.
• Pizza Express — Pick between Brindleyplace and the Bullring and enjoy 25% off food and drink when dining Sunday to Friday.
• Nando's — Who doesn't love a cheeky Nando's? As a student, you can grab 20% off Monday to Wednesday at locations like New Street, the Bullring and Selly Oak.
• Fat Hippo — Just off New Street, these seriously juicy burgers are priced at 20% off when you pop in between Sunday and Thursday.
• Pizza Hut — Savour the chain’s signature pan pizza at the Bullring or New Street with student savings of 20% off Sunday to Thursday.
• Wagamama — Craving ramen or katsu curry? Get 20% discount on food and drink Sunday to Thursday at New Street, the Bullring or Brindleyplace.
• Slim Chickens — If you’re in town and fancy crispy fried chicken, Slim Chickens at Grand Central runs regular student deals like free tenders, drinks and dips.
• Starbucks — With £2 drinks on Tuesdays and 20% of selected food and drink the rest of the week, Starbucks is the place to go if you’re a serial coffee drinker.

Entertainment 🎭

Birmingham has loads of great activity bars and entertainment venues that are honestly some of the best places to visit in the city. Lots offer special student deals – especially outside of peak weekend hours – making midweek entertainment way more appealing.

Here’s a round-up of the best leisure and entertainment discounts available to students:

• TOCA Social — Show your flair at this interactive football bar and take advantage of a massive 50% discount on bookings from Monday to Wednesday.
• Golf Fang — Based in Digbeth – one of Birmingham’s trendiest student areas – this fun-loving crazy golf venue is priced at £8.50 per round Sunday and Thursday.
• The Glee Club — Birmingham’s premier comedy club offers student tickets from the bargain price of just £8 for its Thursday, Friday and Saturday night shows.
• Mockingbird Cinema — Love your indie cinema? This Digbeth venue offers a £15 student membership that gets you two free tickets plus 10% off concessions.
• Lane7 — Two great locations at Grand Central and near Gas Street Basin with 30% off bowling a host of other games, valid Monday to Thursday.
• Boom Battle Bar — Take your pick between crazy golf, axe throwing, darts, karaoke and shuffleboard, all priced at 25% off Sunday to Thursday.
• F1 Arcade — Race simulators and a side of cocktails, anyone? Grab 25% off food and drink when visiting between Sunday and Tuesday.
• Birmingham Hippodrome — Right in the Chinese Quarter, this iconic theatre offers discounts on selected shows, so make sure to check for offers if you’re booking tickets.
• Tenpin — Head to Star City and enjoy classic bowling at the lowly student price of just £5 a game Sunday to Friday.

Nightlife 💃

The nightlife scene in Birmingham is massive with loads of venues catering to students. Weeknights on Broad Street are super cheap and you can often find additional deals through the MiXR app, while there are also a few bottomless brunch spots with special student pricing.

We’ve gathered the best ways to save when hitting the town:

• Rosies — Vodbull Thursdays, one of Birmingham's biggest student nights, has vodka mixers priced at just £2 — and you can earn points on each purchase with MiXR.
• Popworld — Ducktail Thursdays at Popworld is just across the road from Rosies and matches the energy with £2 mixers, plus additional discounts through MiXR.
• Snobs — This Birmingham institution has its own student night with Big Wednesdays, where cheap drink deals and classic indie tunes are guaranteed.
• Be at One — Two lively locations just off New Street and in Brindleyplace, with £6 student cocktails and 50% off spirits and mixers through the MiXR app.
• Slug & Lettuce — Right on the canal, this classic bottomless brunch spot has student prices of just £25 for 90 minutes of unlimited sips Sunday to Friday.
• Walkabout — Aussie-themed Broad Street bar knocking £5 off their standard bottomless brunch prices and offering additional deals through MiXR.
• Las Iguanas — Latin American vibes with three locations across the city centre and Wednesday bottomless brunch deals at £28.95.

Travel 🚅

Birmingham is a big city, so you’ll inevitably find yourself using public transport – especially if you’re making regular visits to areas like Digbeth. Luckily, there are some great discounts that make managing living expenses in Birmingham a lot easier.

Here’s how you can make big savings on travel: 

• 16-25 Railcard — Absolutely essential if you plan on using the train regularly, a student railcard gets you 1/3 off all train fares and only costs around £35.
• National Express — Another solid investment if your journey to campus is via bus, you can opt for a four-week pass for £53 or pay £212 to cover a full term.
• Beryl — You'll see loads of Beryl-branded e-scooters and e-bikes zipping around the city and as a student you can grab 25% all rides.
• Uber — If you haven’t signed up to Uber you can grab £10 off your first ride. Handy if you’re new to the city and still getting your bearings.

Subscriptions 🔄

Memberships and subscriptions are an unavoidable expense and while these deals may not be exclusive to Birmingham students, they’ll often save you even more money than the local discounts listed above.

These are the top deals to take advantage of:

• Amazon Prime Student — Free six-month trial, then half the price of regular Prime membership after that. Next-day delivery to your accommodation is a game-changer when you need stuff urgently or would rather spare yourself a trip to the shops.
• Spotify Premium — Get the first month free, then heavily discounted membership at £5.99 per month. Essential for library sessions, commutes and chill time.
• Pure Gym — If your university doesn’t have a gym you can easily access, Pure Gym has several locations with 30% off your first six months and no joining fee.

University discounts 🎓

Many universities in Birmingham offer their own exclusive partner discounts and cost-of-living support. They're often overlooked but genuinely valuable, with deals ranging from technology and transport to leisure and food.

Check your university's specific offerings below – you might be surprised what's available:

• University of Birmingham — Everything from budget-friendly meal deals on campus to big savings on your next laptop.
• Birmingham City University — The ‘BCU Boost’ offers a free West Midlands travel pass and along with campus food and drink discounts.
• Aston University — Dedicated financial support and great value on the university’s sport and fitness facilities.
• University College Birmingham — Free food on campus and one-off grants for students in need of financial support.
• Birmingham Newman University — A mix of scholarships, bursaries and handy on-campus savings.

Heading to one of the big universities in the city centre? We have a fantastic selection of BCU accommodation for you to explore, as well as dedicated student accommodation near Aston University.

Birmingham: full of affordable fun 💷

Birmingham is genuinely one of the best cities for student discounts in the UK. Between the restaurant deals, shopping discounts and entertainment offers, you can have an incredible student experience without constantly stressing about money.

Looking for somewhere comfortable to call home in this incredible student city? Yugo offers a range of student accommodation in Birmingham, with prime locations in Edgbaston and the city centre. Take a look inside our residences below!