Transport concessions, software, food, events and every card worth having.
Being a student in Australia comes with significant discounts — but you have to know where to find them. The most valuable are transport concessions, free software through your university, and streaming plans. Most require showing a valid student ID or registering with your university email. This guide covers the ones worth actually pursuing.
Your university almost certainly provides free access to Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Teams) through your student email login. Go to your university's IT portal or software portal and download it — do not pay for Office separately. Many universities also provide free or discounted access to Matlab, Stata, SPSS, Autodesk, and other professional tools.
Student concession on public transport saves 30–50% off full fares depending on your city. In Victoria, full-time international students on a student visa qualify for Myki concession. In Queensland, eligible students get a concession Go Card. Visit your university's student services office to get a concession entitlement card or letter, then register online with your state transport authority.
Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Premiere, Illustrator, Lightroom) is discounted 60–70% for students. Go to adobe.com/au and select the Student and Teacher plan — around $25–$30/month instead of $85/month. Verify with your student email. Check your uni IT portal first — some universities provide Adobe access for free.
Register at myunidays.com and studentbeans.com with your student email. These platforms aggregate discounts from ASOS (15% off), Nike (10%), UberEats (varies), Dell (up to 20% off laptops), Spotify ($5.99/month student plan), Apple Music ($5.99/month), and dozens more. New offers are added weekly — check both before any major purchase.
The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is the most widely accepted student identity card globally. In Australia it gives discounts at cinemas (Village, Event, Reading), museums, some restaurants and retailers. Apply online at isic.org for about $30. Always try your university ID first — many venues accept it directly and will save you the $30.
Many cinemas, museums, galleries and venues accept a university ID card directly. Ask 'do you accept student ID?' before paying for an ISIC or other card. This can save you the $30 membership cost.
Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Premium student plans require you to re-verify your student status through SheerID roughly every 12 months. If you miss re-verification your price reverts to the full rate. Set a calendar reminder before your subscription anniversary.