Student card: how to get it and what benefits it offers
In Italy and Europe, high school and college students have the opportunity to access educational entertainment services and financial benefits thanks to the Student Card. Let’s see what student cards are available in Italy, what benefits they offer, and how to get them.
Student card: what it is and what it is for
There are different types of student cards in Italy. Those enrolled in high school (secondary schools) can apply for the IoStudio card: a prepaid reloadable Postepay card that allows access to various discounts and services. In the next section we will discuss this card in more detail.
As for university students, to date in Italy there is no nationally valid university student badge. Each university at the time of matriculation issues its own student badge, which is automatically valid to access any student discount available in the territory.
What are the benefits of the IoStudio student card?
The IoStudio student card offers national and local discounts and deals. The discounts are usually educational and cultural in nature:
- Discounts on school supplies, books, technology resources;
- Reduced prices on sailing, computer or language courses;
- concessions for travel in Italy and abroad (for example, on airline tickets, train travel or hostel reservations);
- Discounted admissions to cinemas, theaters, museums, parks and water parks.
On the student card web page you can see a list of all IoStudio project partners. On this page you can search for offers dedicated to students in your city.
There are also Special Edition IoStudio cards, issued in some Italian municipalities such as Cuneo, Udine, Potenza and the Umbria region.
How to get the IoStudio student card?
The IoStudio card is a named card and is valid from the first year of high school until graduation. Starting with the 2022/2023 school year, the card will no longer be distributed automatically, but will be issued at the request of the family. To receive the IoStudio 2025 card, it is possible to apply at the time of high school enrollment by filling out the appropriate online form. Once ready, the physical card is distributed directly by the Institute’s secretary’s office.
How to apply for a student card at the university?
In most Italian universities, the student card is issued automatically upon matriculation. It is a personal badge that allows access to all university campus facilities, libraries, cafeterias, and study rooms.
In addition to providing access to on-campus services, the university badge is also an identification document outside the university, providing access to all the various student benefits available in the area.
Some universities offer the option of linking the university badge to a bank account, so the student card can be used as a prepaid card. For example, the “La Statale Card” of the State University of Milan or the Student Card of the University of Parma.
Regional student cards linked to the right to study
As we have already seen, there are many regional bodies in Italy that are responsible for the provision of various services for the right to education: scholarships, fee waivers, cafeteria/accommodation services.
Some of these institutions also issue physical student cards, valid for cafeteria service, transportation and other local benefits.
For example, in Tuscany there is the Student Card of Tuscany, a regional card for all students enrolled in a Tuscan university.
How to prove that you are a college student abroad?
To facilitate student mobility in Europe, the European Commission in 2016 launched theEuropean Student Card (ESC) project.
The purpose of this student card is to facilitate access to services offered by one’s university, for example, during an Erasmus+ mobility project.
The European Student Card can be in digital or physical format and carries a personal identification number and a QR code that allows for easy reading.
The project is still under development: many universities have already joined and others have begun the process of adopting the card. According to the latest data collected, by 2024 the number of students in Europe who own and use an ESC is 3.22 million.
Currently, in addition to the ESC, for students participating in Erasmus programs, there is the ESN (Erasmus Student Network) card, which is a membership card for Erasmus and international students. It gives access to discounts, travel, events and conventions throughout Europe; for example, reduced tickets to travel with FlixBus, Ryanair and BlaBlaCar.
If you are about to move to Italy for study remember that in addition to the discounts offered by the student card, you can take advantage of support services for obtaining a residence permit or health coverage. Contact Welcome Association Italy to learn more.
