Press Enter to search

News

The ultimate student guide

From the best dupes to student discounts…

Heading to uni? Whether you’re at Queen Margaret, Edinburgh Uni, Heriot Watt or Napier, Fort Kinnaird is your go-to place for student discounts, fashion, beauty and homewares, food and nights out.

To get you started this term, we’ve put together the essential stores, student offers and insider knowledge you need to know (sign up to our newsletters here for extra info too).

The best student discounts and offers

Sign up to UNiDays and Student Beans for discounts at Fort Kinnaird stores including New Look, Office, Next, Currys, JD Sports, River Island, schuh, Typo, Hobbycraft and more. Also Boots Opticians and Specsavers do excellent discounts for students.

Don’t miss our offers page (you can filter by student) which lists all the latest discounts from TGI Fridays, Elegance Beauty, Pizza Hut, schuh and Greggs. There are ever-changing offers so it’s worth bookmarking.

Get all the discount vouchers out there

H&M Bag students

Image provided by H&M

Clear out unwanted clothes and shoes, save the planet and get vouchers or money off your purchases at H&M, Marks & Spencer (donate an old M&S item at an Oxfam store), schuh and River Island. Currys also do trash for cash – recycle any tech product with them and get a £5 voucher.

River Island take back students

Image provided by River Island

Maxing out your birthday has become TikTok legend so get organised by signing up to loyalty schemes everywhere… Then head to Mango, Hobbycraft and The Body Shop to spend your free £5 birthday vouchers or get 25% off one item at H&M, 10% off at Pandora, extra points at Boots and a Superdrug surprise.

Hungry? Greggs will cheerfully give you a free sweet treat, Costa a free slice of cake while you can get in the party mood with a free cocktail at TGI Fridays.

Food, drink and evenings out

Pizza Express students

Image provided by Pizza Express

Fort Kinnaird is home to TGI Fridays, Frankie & Benny’s, Pizza Express, Greggs, Hotel Chocolat, Marks & Spencer and Nando’s which all offer excellent student deals on meals out with friends. Odeon always offers student prices and, if you get your insurance via comparethemarket.com, you’ll be able to get two-for-one Meerkat Movie tickets on Tuesday or Wednesdays for the whole year.

Student gym membership

Pure Gym is open 24/7 and has an incredible student membership which gives you access to high-tech equipment, weights, exercise classes, free parking and bring-a-guest benefits. Plus, no joining fee.

Amazing student tech deals on laptops and phones

O2 have 20% off plans and accessories; Three offer a whopping 50% for students via UNiDAYs and Save The Student and EE & BT give 20% off. Currys  and Argos have everything covered in terms of tech essentials with special offers on laptop bundles; Bluetooth headphones and speakers, printers, iPads, cables, keyboards and mice with brands including Apple, Logitech, Samsung, HP, Canon and Sony. Trade in old tech for money off or use Student Beans for discounts.

Insider fashion and beauty and the best trending dupes

Primark bag students

Image provided by Primark

As much as we’d all like a designer wardrobe, we’re working on a budget here so let’s all celebrate the rise of the dupe. Accessories-wise River Island, Primark and New Look are leading the way with handbags, totes and shoppers that conjure up the aesthetic of everyone from Balenciaga to Vivienne Westwood; H&M has some gorgeous muted shapewear and bodysuits while schuh has pleasing flatform sandals in a rainbow of colours.

Marks & Spencer’s breakout fragrances include Pink Pepper and Velvet Amber (£6) plus their Ultimate Cleanse Rose Cleansing Balm (£12) is the thinking alternative to beauty hall icons. Primark is dupe heaven with its Wonderlash Mascara and Tinted Moisturisers currently trending.

Primark mascara students

Image provided by Primark

Also, don’t forget elf at Boots and Superdrug which has everything from bronzers and brow gels giving the major names a run for their money; Avène’s Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream, £7 at Boots, has been likened to luxe brand La Mer and Collection Gorgeous Glow Filter Finish, £7.99, is giving flawless finishes.

All the stationery and books

Typo stationery students

Image provided by Typo

Waterstones plus student lets you earn points as you shop (every 10 plus stamps you earn gives you £10) with 5% of every purchase so it’s an essential for text books and research. You can get discount on Typo’s essential academic diaries and pick up notebooks, pens and post-its, head to WH Smith, TK Maxx and Hobbycraft.

Student living made easy

Primark home students

Image provided by Primark

For throws, bedding, cushions, cutlery, storage and laundry bags, head to Marks & Spencer, Primark, TK Maxx, H&M, Primark and Next. Fairy lights, photo collages (see Hobbycraft), jewellery storage, over door hooks and rugs can transform your space from bland to bespoke.

Keep food and drink in your bedroom with a mini fridge (from £44 at Argos); get pots and pans, plates and cutlery from ProCook; quickly and easily dry your washing with a handy clothes airer (pick up a heated one at Argos from £55) and make sure your phone/laptop are charged wherever you go with a portable battery (Argos and Currys). Argos is also brilliant for small space living with bed-desks, foldable washing baskets and more…

The freshers’ essentials

Primark water bottle students

Image provided by Primark

Earplugs for those first few weeks; Vitamin C to ward off freshers’ flu plus ibuprofen (always invest in the own labels from Boots, Holland & Barrett and Superdrug); dressing gown, onesies, slippers and crocs at Primark, schuh, Marks & Spencer and H&M; a hot water bottle, plasters and a big water bottle will see you through everything (Primark has you covered).

Happy new term!

For all the latest student deals, offers and discounts to know, sign up to our newsletter here.

Share

Newsletter Sign Up

Sign up for the latest updates on what’s happening at Fort Kinnaird. What’s on, offers and what’s new, hear it here first.

Sign Up

More news

Click & Collect at Fort Kinnaird

Valentine’s Day at Fort Kinnaird

Happiness and wellness reading list for children