How to Get a Student Card When You’re Not a Student (& Save Hundreds on Travel)

Student discounts are some of the best around, particularly for gyms, travel, hotels and eating out. The problem? They’re only available if you’re actually a student. So, here’s how to become a student (for cheap), and claim that discount as yours.

I don’t like paying full price for anything – especially when I can see a discount sitting right there, taunting me.

A few months ago now, I was looking at joining the gym. Nothing fancy. Just somewhere to move my body and pretend I enjoy burpees. Then I noticed this:

Student membership: £120 for the whole year
Everyone else: more than double that

There had to be a way around this.

So I did some research, and there is.

If you want to know how to get a student card when you’re not actually a student, this is exactly what I did – and it’s already saved me well over £100, with plenty more to come.

The secret: don’t fake being a student – become one

I realised the simplest way to get a student card… is to actually enrol on a course.

Not a three-year university degree.
Not student loans.
Not moving into halls.

Just an online course that qualifies you as a student.

I signed up to Lead Academy and enrolled in their Psychology bundle course. It’s online, self-paced, and genuinely interesting – not entirely sure I’ll ever get round to finishing it, but that’s by the by.

The cost?

Course price: £12
I found a 10% off voucher, bringing it down to £10.80

Yes. That’s it.

How I got a student discount card in 24 hours

Within 24 hours of signing up, Lead Academy emailed me everything I needed to prove my student status.

That included the details required to apply for a TOTUM card — which is essentially the new version of the NUS card.

TOTUM card cost:

£29.99 for THREE YEARS

So for roughly £40 all in, I became a legitimate student with access to student discounts for the next three years. You can watch me talk you through this on TikTok.

What can you use a student card for?

This is where it gets good – especially if you love travel and hate paying full price.

With my student card, I’ve already:

Saved over £100 on my gym membership.
Accessed food and restaurant discounts at chains.
Unlocked hotel deals on hotels.com.
Found discounts on holidays, travel, and experiences for the future.

And I’ve barely scratched the surface.

If you travel even a couple of times a year — or regularly book hotels, eat out, or join gyms — the savings can add up fast. In fact, so many discounts I had to unsubscribe on email…

Is this legit?

Yes. Completely.

You’re not pretending to be a student.
You’re not lying.
You’re enrolled on a real course.

You just happen to be using that student status to save money — which, frankly, feels like a life skill we should all be taught.

This isn’t a loophole that requires lying or pretending to be someone you’re not. You’re enrolling on a real course, learning something new, and being recognised as a student as a result. If you actually complete the course? Even better. But even if you take it slowly, the value is already there.

Is it worth it?

Let’s do the maths:

Course: £10.80
Student card (3 years): £29.99
Total spend: £40.79

Savings so far:

Gym discount alone: £100+
Plus ongoing food, travel, and hotel discounts

That’s a ridiculous return for something that took less than a day to set up.