Use the web to net yourself some deals

AAH, the internet. King of information, titillation and procrastination, it’s saluted by students – medical and otherwise – the world over. Who hasn’t wasted countless hours browsing Facebook for a distraction from work? Or not been able to resist the urge to Google their own name? And can anyone honestly say they’ve survived medical school without the help of Wikipedia?

But did you also know that the interweb can point you in the direction of myriad deals and offers for hard-up students?

In the first part of our series on getting the most out of the web as a student, here are some sites and tips that’ll help you enjoy your spare time at university without breaking the bank.

- www.studentbeans.com - new self-styled online provider of deals and discounts for students. Sign up for an account and print off personalised discount vouchers for entertainment, dining out and more.

- www.stuwd.com – a free student-only service that sends subscribers twice-weekly offers via text message.

- www.nusonline.co.uk - the National Union of Students Extra card offers students cut-price dining deals, Virgin Experience Days and many discounts abroad – check out the offers online to make sure you’ll use them before you buy a card!

- www.isic.org - an International Student Identity Card will get you discounts on everything from theme park admission to gym memberships and cinema tickets to paintballing! It’s also valid abroad and incorporates proof of age. Get either an NUS or an ISIC card and make a point of asking about student discounts wherever you go. You’d be surprised at the number of places that offer unadvertised discounts – if you don’t ask, you won’t get!

- www.studentfreestuff.com - a collection of ‘free’ deals for students with some time to mess about on the net – some require sign-ups, taking surveys and so on.

- www.freeguestlist.co.uk - a free service enabling you to queue jump and/or get into clubs for free in London – perfect for birthdays. Stop getting caught out by extortionate entry charges!

- www.lastminute.com - possibly the most famous site on the web for eleventh hour deals – perfect for students. Remember though that if it’s theatre tickets you want and you live nearby, it’s always worth asking about an hour before curtain up on quieter days whether they have any discounted last-minute tickets. They’ll often flog a ticket to a student for a tenner rather than see a seat go wasted!