The Apple student discount: your back-to-school guide to saving

Apple is famous around the world for producing innovative and high-quality products that are used by professionals, creatives and tech enthusiasts daily. But its products are great for students, too. The Macbook is a powerful tool built to handle both the lightest notetaking and the heaviest projects. The Apple Watch can help you stay fit during your busy class schedule. The iPhone makes it easy to keep track of your calendar and stay in touch even when you’re on the go. And the iPad is a great on-the-go tablet for graphic design and other creative tasks.

But, as you’ve probably noticed, Apple products aren’t cheap. As a result, you might be wondering: does Apple do student discounts? Lucky for you and students around the world, the answer is yes.

But how does the Apple student discount work? As a former student who took advantage of this perk, I’ll use my knowledge in this article to break down the Apple student discount for you. I’ll cover who’s eligible for it, how to get it, how good it really is and alternative discounts that are geared toward students. Let’s get started.

The Apple student discount is actually valid for almost anyone in education: university students, parents, teachers and other staff members working in schools. All these people can benefit from the Apple student discount by visiting Apple’s Education Store. So we know it exists, but exactly how much is the Apple student discount? 

The exact amount varies by product and region, but typically, a discount of 5%–10% applies to select products in the UK, such as newer Macs and iPads – the most commonly used tools by students. Eligible products typically include the following:

• Macs (both desktops and laptops)

• iPads and selected accessories

• Displays

• AppleCare+ for Mac

• AppleCare+ for iPad

You’ll notice that some popular Apple products are missing from this list – that’s because they’re not eligible for the traditional student discount. There may not be a designated Apple Watch student discount or Apple student discount for iPhone, but you can still save on these by shopping at the Education Store. This will give you lower starting prices and other suggestions for ways to save on these products and more. For even more savings on an Apple Watch or iPhone, consider checking out refurbished electronics marketplaces like Back Market.

The Apple student discount also works in other ways. Even if your product isn’t eligible for the classic 5%–10% discount, if you purchase select products, Apple will throw in a gift card with a value of at least £80 so you can continue to save on future purchases. Items eligible for a gift card include the following: 

• For a limited time only, certain Macs and iPads are eligible for a £120 gift card with purchase until 21/10/24.

• Mac minis are eligible for an £80 gift card.

• iMacs are eligible for a £120 gift card.

• iPad Pros are eligible for an £80 gift card.

• Macbook Pros are eligible for a £120 gift card.

• Macbook Airs are eligible for a £120 gift card.

You can also get 20% off AppleCare (extended warranty and tech support) for your devices, an Apple Music Student Plan that includes free AppleTV, or the Pro Apps Bundle (including Final Cut Pro, Motion and others) for a discounted price.

Who is eligible for the Apple student discount?

Newly accepted and current higher education students are, of course, eligible for the Apple student discount, but they’re not the only ones. Parents buying products for their children in higher education, as well as teachers and school staff (not just in higher education, but at all levels) are also eligible for this discount.

How to get the student discount on Apple products

Taking advantage of the Apple student discount in the UK is quite easy. All you have to do is shop online at the Education Store for these lower starting prices. Go ahead and add the items you want to your cart and head to the checkout page – your savings will be reflected in the final total. 

To access these savings, though, you will be asked to verify your student, parent or educator status using the third-party service UNiDAYS. This will require you to make an account with UNiDAYS, not Apple, to enter your information. It will ask you for details such as the name of your school, the courses you’re attending, the years of study and course length. If you’re using your school email address to register, then that’s great! You should be all set. But if not, you will also need to upload a student ID. You can also call Apple or go to an Apple store in person if you need help with this process.

How good is the Apple student discount?

Of course, it’s great that Apple offers discounts to students and educators at all. But how beneficial are these discounts? Reviews from customers are mixed, actually. While any savings are good savings, some people think the Apple student discount is quite limited and doesn’t do enough to help students and educators. So, let’s break down the pros and cons of this deal. 

Pros of the Apple student discount

Of course, the first pro is that you will save 5%–10% on brand-new Apple products. This is especially helpful for those in the market specifically for these eligible products in 2024:

• 13-inch Macbook Air (M2 or M3 chip)

• 15-inch Macbook Air (M3 chip)

• 14-inch Macbook Pro (M3, M3 Pro, or M3 Max chip)

• 16-inch Macbook Pro (M3 Pro or M3 Max chip)

• 11-inch iPad Air (any storage capacity)

• 13-inch iPad Air (any storage capacity)

• 11-inch iPad Pro (any storage capacity)

• 13-inch iPad Pro (any storage capacity)

• iMac (8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 256GB storage, 8GB unified memory)

• iMac (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 256GB storage, 8GB unified memory)

• iMac (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 512GB storage, 8GB unified memory)

• Mac mini (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 256GB SSD storage, 8GB unified memory)

• Mac mini (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 512GB SSD storage, 8GB unified memory)

• Mac mini (10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 512GB SSD storage, 16GB unified memory)

Buying these directly from Apple has advantages, such as being able to easily purchase AppleCare and having a record of sale directly from the manufacturer. Related to this, you may also be able to get deals on even more products with the Apple student discount by trading in your current device. 

You can also customise your product with your choice of colour and storage. You can even have your Apple product engraved for free and add accessories, such as the Magic Keyboard or Apple Pencil, to your purchased product. 

Finally, you may be eligible for free delivery depending on your purchase and location, or you can pick up your items from your closest Apple store for free. 

Cons of the Apple student discount

There are also some disadvantages of this discount offered by Apple. The first is the limited inventory – the discount typically only applies to the newest Apple products, so you’ll still be paying quite a bit for something new when you may actually prefer a cheaper, older model without all the extra bells and whistles. 

Another con is the limited number of purchases you’re eligible for with the Apple student discount. The discount can only be used on one Macbook per year, one Mac desktop per year, one Mac mini per year, two iPads per year and two accessories for your chosen product per year. If you want to buy more of these products, you will either need to wait for the new academic year to begin to take advantage of the discount or buy further products at full price. 

Another common complaint is that the verification system to use the Apple student discount can be tedious and time-consuming. To be fair, if you’re using your school email address to make your UNiDAYS account, it should be pretty easy. However, if you need to upload a student identification document, the process can take days. This can significantly slow down your shopping process and isn’t ideal for those buying something at the last minute. 

Finally, some argue that the Apple student discount actually doesn’t go far enough money-wise. Offering a small percentage off of their most expensive products is not that helpful for people who are truly struggling financially and is almost never the cheapest option.

Alternatives to the Apple student discount

So, the Apple student discount is great, but you’re looking for even more savings. This is a common problem, and luckily there are other retailers where you can find Apple products for the upcoming school year even cheaper. And you don’t always have to buy brand-new products. 

Your best bet is to check out refurbished electronics marketplaces such as Back Market for your back-to-school needs. On Back Market, you’ll be able to find all the same products you’d find on the Apple website, including MacBooks, iMacs and iPads, but for much cheaper – sometimes even as much as 50% - 70% cheaper. 

This is because the products on Back Market are refurbished. These pre-owned electronics are inspected, tested and restored to top condition before being sold on Back Market as good as new for a lower price. Back Market focuses on quality, so you’re sure to get the most bang for your buck. Buying refurbished electronics is also a more sustainable way to shop. By purchasing a refurbished device, you reduce electronic waste and save money at the same time.

Just like Apple, Back Market is committed to helping students reach their full potential. Right now, they’re offering a student discount with a flat rate of £20 on all purchases of £250 or more – whether you’re buying a MacBook, Apple Watch, iPhone or any other product you can find on their site. All you have to do is fill out the student form to get your discount code. What’s more, Back Market also allows you to trade in your current device to get a discount on a new one. Back Market also offers free delivery on all items, a one-year minimum warranty and a free 30-day return program, so if you’re not satisfied within the first month, no sweat.

Final thoughts

As we’ve seen, the Apple student discount can be helpful but only to a certain point. Those in the market for new, state-of-the-art products can certainly find it useful to get a discount on these brand-new items. 

However, it is not the cheapest way to buy back-to-school products, especially if you’re looking for an older model or a product or accessory that’s not on Apple’s eligible products list. Students, parents and educators looking for the best ways to save should opt for refurbished electronics first, to see if their preferred product is available for the best savings.